Defending UAAP Women’s Basketball Champions National University Lady Bulldogs were handed a tough 65-66 heartbreak by the University of Northern Colorado Bears to open their 2019 BLIA Cup campaign, Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs were up 65-62 with 2:01 left in overtime but Alecia Whyte was able to cut the lead down to a solitary point in the next possession.
Incoming rookie Camille Clarin had a good look on the other end but the ball could not fell in the hole that led to a breakaway layup by Ali Meyer for the go-ahead basket with 44 seconds left.
After NU was able to get a defensive stop, Clarin tried to set up Jack Animam on the post but she overcooked her pass as time expired.
The game though was marred by controversy to end regulation.
With NU up 60-58 and 6.2 seconds remaining, Lamama Kapinga, who will serve as NU’s foreign student-athlete in Season 83, was forced to put up a shot as the shot clock was winding down. The ball did not hit the rim as a scramble ensued underneath.
Northern Colorado gained control of the ball but the technical table kept pressing the buzzer that should have resulted in a dead ball. However, the officials did not stop the play that led to Whyte’s overtime-sending bucket.
Kapinga paced NU with 13 point and eight rebounds while Clarin and Kaye Pingol also had 13 markers each.
Reigning MVP Animam was saddled with fouls all game long, finishing with just eight points and six rebounds.
Alisha Davis led the Bears with 12 points.
NU will next face University of Nagoya on Thursday, July 18 at 5:20 pm.
The Scores:
NU 65 – Clarin 13, Kapinga 13, Pingol 13, Animam 8, Itesi 5, Canuto 4, Bartolo 4, Cacho 2, Surada 2, Del Carmen 1, Camelo 0, Faburada 0.
UNC 66 – Davis 12, Chapman 9, Whyte 9, Harden 9, Deaton 8, Gayles 7, Kain 5, Meyer 3, Evans 2, Finau 2.
Quarterscores: 14-27, 35-38, 46-51, 60-60, 65-66.
