UCLA Women Fall, 47-43

With Pacific 10 Conference play eight days away, there must soon come a point when UCLA goes beyond being “almost good enough” to win a game that’s there for the taking.

For the second time in the last three games, UCLA had a chance to knock off a ranked team. And for the second time they squandered that chance as No. 24 Michigan State escaped Friday with a 47-43 victory in front of 602 at Pauley Pavilion.

Liz Shimek had 14 points for the Spartans (8-1), who never trailed after the 10-minute mark of the first half. The Bruins (3-4), who had 13 points by Lisa Willis, trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and got as close as 42-40 on a layup by Willis with 3 minutes 45 seconds left. But UCLA never got the decisive score or defensive stop to make the upset possible.

That has been part of the early-season frustration for Coach Kathy Olivier. Throw out an 89-58 loss to Texas and the other three defeats have been by a combined six points.

“We’ve got to get over this phase [of losing close games],” Olivier said. “We’re not 100% healthy, but this can be a good team. But we need to get over some things ... [like] making our free throws and getting our transition game in sync.”

UCLA struggled from the outset, missing five shots and having four turnovers in its first nine possessions. But the biggest lead the Spartans could muster in the first half was 24-12. By halftime the margin was 25-17.

Neither team had a good shooting night. Michigan State was 38.8% (19 for 49) from the field and UCLA made only 31.5% (17 for 54) of its shots.

Of bigger concern to UCLA is the condition of talented freshman Noelle Quinn, who was held out against Michigan State because of a possible stress fracture in her right foot.

Olivier said Quinn would be evaluated before Sunday’s game against Fresno State.