Michelle Greco

Michelle Greco dreams of playing professional basketball. But never in her wildest fantasy did Greco, a 5-foot-9 junior forward for Crescenta Valley High in La Crescenta, envision herself scoring 54 points in a state playoff game. "I don't know, it just didn't seem like I scored 54," she said. "I guess you could say it's all been overwhelming."

Nothing shakes an athlete quite like hearing "you're not good enough" to make the team. It is a message that can crush the spirit or awaken a new determination. Until last year, Michelle Greco, 23, had never been told "you're not good enough" as a basketball player. Certainly not at La Crescenta Crescenta Valley High, where she was a four-time Pacific League most valuable player, a two-time high school All-American and the state Division I player of the year.

They begin the game on the UCLA bench, doing a slow burn that builds to a raging inferno of rabid defense and vocal leadership when finally they are inserted into the lineup. Carly Funicello and Michelle Greco were Times Valley players of the year in high school, go-to producers who led their teams in scoring, rebounding and headlines. But times change, and players adjust.

It's time to say goodbye to Michelle Greco. When UCLA tips off against Oregon today it will be the fifth-year senior's final game at Pauley Pavilion. She is the face of UCLA women's basketball, having been featured on the cover of the team's last three media guides. She is the link to the last UCLA teams that played in the NCAA tournament. "I am sad," said Greco, who will graduate with a double major, history and political science. "[UCLA] has been my home for five years.

In other Pac-10 games: UCLA (2-13, 1-3) was a 78-68 loser to Arizona State (11-6, 3-2) at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA's Michelle Greco scored 22 points, but made only eight of 24 shots. . . . No. 18 Oregon (11-3, 4-0) scored the game's final 14 points in a 67-53 victory over Washington (10-5, 3-2) at Seattle.

* CALIFORNIA (6-11, 2-5) vs. USC (8-9, 3-4), Lyon Center, 7--USC, which beat Oregon and Oregon State last weekend, looks for a sweep against Cal and, on Sunday at the Sports Arena, against Stanford. * * STANFORD (10-7, 4-3) at UCLA (3-15, 2-5), 7, KAVL (610)--UCLA junior Michelle Greco continues to lead the Pac-10 in scoring at 20.1 points per game and in free throw shooting, 88.7%. Stanford, 1-6 on the road, is led by freshman Nicole Powell at 13.6 points per game.

Michelle Greco, the Valley player of the year, also has been chosen winner of The Times' Cheryl Miller Award recognizing the top high school girls' basketball player in the Southland. Greco won the award over finalists Naila Moseley of Crenshaw and Nicole Greathouse of Buena. Greco, a junior, will be honored at an awards brunch on Saturday. She was runner-up for Cal-Hi Sports' state player of the year, behind Erin Buescher of Santa Rosa Rincon Valley Christian.

Many of Michelle Greco's awards are on display in a special showcase at the ESPN store in the Glendale Galleria. Crescenta Valley High's standout guard-forward probably appreciates the extra space around the house. Greco finished her prep career as one of the most honored girls' basketball players in state history, and all those trophies and plaques sure can clutter a house.

Friday night's women's basketball game between UCLA and No. 24-ranked Arizona . wasn't often a pretty sight. But the final result was a thing of beauty to the Bruins, who pulled off a 48-47 upset of the Wildcats before 850 at Pauley Pavilion. To win, the Bruins (13-9, 8-5) had to survive cold shooting (31%), eight shots blocked by the bigger Wildcats, and their leading scorer Michelle Greco being shut out.

Senior guard Michelle Greco was cleared by the UCLA medical staff to resume her college basketball career, school officials said Monday. Her 2001-02 season ended after five games because of her history of concussions. Greco averaged 23.6 points in those games, in which the Bruins were 3-2. UCLA was 6-18 without her. "I'm just very excited and can't wait to play," said Greco, who has been granted a fifth year of eligibility by the Pacific 10.

Michelle Greco keeps hearing the rumors. She got pregnant. Her grades were bad. And then there was this one: UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier conspired to sideline the senior until next year, when a strong recruiting class is scheduled to arrive. Greco, 21, is sitting out the season at UCLA, but not for any of those reasons. She has a history of concussions. A series of preseason tests convinced UCLA doctors she was in danger of another injury, and they have refused to clear her to return to the team.

UCLA (3-4) at No. 9 Baylor (9-0), 1, Fox Sports Net--The Bruins no longer wonder about the status of Michelle Greco, now that their leading scorer is lost for the season. Gennifer Arranaga (5.4 points) gets the first chance to be the permanent replacement. But Greco's 23.6 scoring average will be hard to replace for a team struggling offensively. In its last three losses, UCLA averaged 47 pointsand is shooting 26% (52 for 202) from the field.

Senior guard Michelle Greco will sit out the rest of the basketball season after UCLA doctors said she needed to recover from a series of mild concussions sustained in her sophomore and junior seasons. Greco, 21, the defending Pacific 10 scoring champion, was examined by the UCLA campus medical staff before the season started, said senior women's administrator Betsy Stephenson. Greco played in five games, averaging 23.6 points, before all the test results came back. The day before UCLA's Dec.

Pacific 10 Conference women's basketball play is fast approaching and UCLA does not look ready. The holes in the Bruins' game, especially on offense, are still numerous as No.15-ranked Colorado amply revealed a 79-48 victory over UCLA in front of 1,015 on Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion. It was the third consecutive loss for UCLA (3-4), which has a nonconference game Saturday at Baylor before opening conference play against Oregon and Oregon State.

UCLA may have lost something more important than a women's basketball game. Michelle Greco, the team's leading scorer, was told Tuesday night by team doctors to sit out the game Wednesday night against San Diego, which the Bruins lost, 79-51, at Jenny Craig Pavilion. She is expected to sit out Saturday's game against 14th-ranked Colorado. There is no timetable for her return. Greco--the defending Pacific 10 scoring champion who is averaging 23.