For most of three quarters yesterday, fourth-ranked Hawai'i was right with the best women's water polo team in the country this side of the national team. Then it wasn't.

The unbeaten, top-ranked, three-time defending NCAA champion Bruins poured in three goals in the space of 2:20 to pull away from the Rainbow Wahine, 9-5, in their Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match. A Spring Break crowd of more than 200 watched — first in upset anticipation and then in awe of UCLA — at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Hawai'i (13-5, 6-2 MPSF) fell behind 2-0. It caught UCLA (22-0, 8-0) with goals by Leonie Van Der Molen, on an assist from Kelly Mason, and Angela Turnbull, from Anna Sieprath, before the quarter was over.

Two of the MPSF's top three scoring teams managed but a goal each in the second quarter. UCLA coach Adam Krikorian pleaded with his team to get more physical at halftime — "I felt like they were dictating the flow of the game" — while UH suffered through an internal squabble fueled by frustration in the third quarter.

Those two factors and the Bruins' brilliance broke the game open with 2:50 remaining in the period. Courtney Mathewson, who put UCLA up 4-3 early in the quarter, started and ended the three-goal flurry. Her last two goals sandwiched a penalty shot by Tanya Gandy.

The final period was a mere formality as the Bruins, looking for their 10th national title, cruised to their 30th straight win and extended their dominance over UH to 30-0. UCLA has not lost in nearly a year.

"I'm not exactly sure what happened there but we kind of lost focus," UH coach Michel Roy said. "If one team can beat them that's us. Hopefully we'll beat them at the right moment at the right place. That's the idea.

"We were right with them for nearly three quarters and then we ran out of gas. No, we ran out of mental toughness."

All was not lost in Roy's eyes. For the most part he was pleased with the game his team played, particularly the defense of Hawai'i Prep graduate Ryan Hanson-Swaner and freshman goalie Serena Bredin, who had six of her 10 saves in the first quarter. Turnbull scored three goals for the second straight match. She has eight goals the last three games, all against Top-10 teams.

According to Krikorian, the Rainbow Wahine are clearly better than they were in a 15-10 loss to UCLA seven weeks ago.

"They're in better condition, they look like they are playing a little bit better together," Krikorian said. "I honestly believe that team is as talented as any in the country. ... They are going to be a tough match-up down the road for whoever plays them. It might be us."

Hawai'i's final home match of the season is Friday against eighth-ranked UC Irvine. Its final seven matches before the MPSF Championship are on the road.