BRUINS CAN'T CLOSE IT OUT MARYLAND 79, UCLA 75.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne

Staff Writer

The compliments were nice. Finding out they were good enough to play with the No. 3 team in the country was even better.

But it wasn't as good as a win.

The UCLA women's basketball team came close to upsetting No.3 Maryland on Sunday afternoon. But the veteran Terrapins used their experience and some clutch shooting from junior point guard Kristi Toliver to overcome a 16-point second-half deficit and escape with a 79-75 victory in front of 1,527 at Pauley Pavilion.

After the game, Toliver and preseason All-American forward Crystal Langhorne said the upstart Bruins reminded them of themselves two years ago. Not a bad compliment, considering Maryland won the national title two years ago.

"They reminded me of us two years ago in how fearless they were," said Langhorne, who finished with 12 points despite a sore ankle. "They're a bunch of freshmen and sophomores who play hard and have no fear of anyone."

UCLA's freshman class scored 43 of its 75 points, played 60percent of its minutes and could have done even more if center Regina Rogers hadn't been limited by foul trouble in the first half.

But down the stretch, the Bruins showed their youth as Maryland rallied from a 69-53 deficit over the last 6 minutes, 47 seconds. Instead of taking time off the clock when they were up 16, UCLA continued to run and shoot early in the shot clock. And when the shots didn't fall, Maryland was able to exploit lapses in UCLA's transition defense to close out the game on a 26-6 run.

"Down the stretch, I think Maryland's experience kind of showed," UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said. "They (Maryland) took their time on offense and got some good looks and ... we (shot quickly), so in that respect, we're still kind of a work in progress."

Maryland (8-0) was playing without coach Brenda Frese, who stayed home on doctor's orders, because of back pain. Frese is pregnant with twins.

Toliver led the Terps with 22points and eight assists. Her 3-pointer with 1:07 gave Maryland a 75-73 lead. She then hit two free throws to ice the victory with 0:47 left.

Lindsay Pluimer led UCLA with 17 points. Freshman guard Doreena Campbell added 15 points, four rebounds and made three 3-pointers.

UCLA (3-1) was trying for its first 4-0 start in 21 years and first-ever win over a top-3 team.

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Photo:

UCLA's Regina Rogers, left, and Maryland's Marissa Coleman scramble for a loose ball during the second half Sunday.

Branimir Kvartuc/Associated Press