THE UST Growling Tigresses sustained their unbeaten record after taking down the DLSU Lady Archers, 83-62, in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Karylle Sierba headlined the Tigresses with 20 points and nine rebounds while CJ Maglupay added 14 baskets.
Barby Dajao shattered UST’s early-game drought with a layup followed by a three-pointer from Rachelle Ambos, 13-6.
The tension began to rise as DLSU began to match the Growling Tigresses’ pace as La Salle’s Aiesha Dizon closed the opening quarter with a layup, 16-12.
The Lady Archers continued to keep up with UST until Agatha Bron marked a basket and a three-pointer to regain the upperhand, 27-23.
The game remained heated but was interrupted by the collective efforts of Maglupay and Dajao to acquire a nine-point cushion for the Tigresses, 37-28.
Sierba’s three-pointer kept UST in a comfortable seven-point advantage leading into halftime, 40-33.
The Espana-based squad extended their lead in the third frame with Sierba’s consecutive baskets, 50-37.
UST maintained the gap to 13 points as Bron capped the third quarter with a three-pointer assisted by Brigette Santos, 49-62.
Bron and Oma Onianwa emerged in the last quarter with their conjoined offense to take UST off to a 10-4 barrage, 72-53.
The Tigresses then uncorked an 8-0 run in the closing minutes and notch their biggest lead of the match.
Santos and Bron tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Bukky Ojo led the Lady Archers with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
UST seeks to sweep the first round against the UP Fighting Maroons on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Blue Eagle Gym. F -Nathalie Rose Salar
