THE UST Growling Tigresses snapped their two-game losing streak after outclassing the Ateneo Blue Eagles with a dominant 23-point win, 90-67, on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
The tigresses started sloppy in the opening frame as the blue eagles went on a 6-0 run in the first four minutes of the game at the Adamson University Gym.
But UST found its rhythm by responding with a 22-9 run, ignited by Agatha Bron’s back-to-back triples, followed by Rocel Dionisio, Nikki Villasin, Kent Pastrana and Apple Maglupay’s converted jumpers.
The tigresses ended the opening quarter with a six-point lead, 24-18.
The blue eagles kept trading buckets at the start of the second frame in an attempt to prevent the tigresses from extending their lead. However, the España-based team went on a 6-0 run and managed to keep its lead at the end of the first half, 38-33.
Despite Ateneo’s 6-0 run at the start of the third quarter, tigress Agatha Bron’s four three-pointers ignited UST’s 12-0 run, giving her team a commanding 13-point lead, 61-48.
The Katipunan-based squad made efforts to cut the lead to single digits in the middle of the last quarter but failed to overpower the offensive prowess of tigresses Eka Soriano, Brigette Santos and Tacky Tacatac, who expanded UST’s advantage to double digits.
Pastrana led the tigresses with a team-high 17 points, six rebounds and two assists. Bron tallied her season-best 15 points with five three-pointers and two rebounds while Tacatac contributed 15 points and three glasses.
Blue Eagle Kacey Dela Rosa posted a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
The UST Growling Tigresses will seek to end the first round on a winning note when they clash with the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, Oct. 21 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. F — N. A. Villamor, Jr.
