THE UST Growling Tigresses maintained their unbeaten presence at the top by dominating the UE Lady Warriors, 106-48, in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Karylle Sierba led the offensive display for the Tigresses with 21 markers and six assists, while Oma Onianwa chipped-in a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double.
“It’s always team effort that we bring to every game, along with whatever Coach (Haydee’s) game plan is. We aren’t perfect players, but we just need to follow the system even more,” Sierba told The Flame.
“(But) we really need to improve our three-point shot more, and also our self-confidence,” she added.
The Tigresses also dispatched 24 total team steals, which equated to a perfect 48 points-off-turnovers.
UST accelerated early in the first period gaining a double-digit lead wrapped-up by Naysa Tate’s layup and Onianwa’s successful free throws, 26-10.
A Coi Danganan putback and Sierba’s two-straight layups gave the Tigresses a double digit lead within the seventh-minute of the second period, but Lady Warrior Rachel Lacayanga immediately answered with her own layup, 34-13.
One minute before halftime, Sierba and Agatha Bron played on a back-and-forth exchange of steals and layups as they closed the period with a widened UST advantage, 52-20.
Despire Erin McAlary’s layup entering the half, the Recto-based squad sparked a 6-2 blitz capped-off by two-straight layups from Kate Cruz and Rizza Salise, 54-29.
But come the third minute, the Tigresses built a 42-digit lead from the paint from Gin Relliquette, CJ Maglupay and Coi Danganan through a tight defensive display, 75-33.
Towards the end of the third salvo, turnover woes of the Tigresses cruised a 4-0 Lady Warriors run all from steals, but Onianwa’s putback before buzzer maintained the pace for the España-based squad, 79-39.
As the fourth quarter unfolds, the Tigresses held the Lady Warriors to only nine points to increase their deficit further as consecutive layups from Kai Danganan and Grachelle Boteros sealed the 58-point victory for the Tigresses.
Maglupay and Bridgette Santos also added 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Lacayanga paced the Lady Warriors with a career-high 21 points, with Moana Vacalares and Sy Oñate adding a combined 11 markers.
The Tigresses will aim to sustain their triumphant rank by facing the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 15, at the same venue. F
