The University of Santo Tomas showed character in an all-important affair against Far Eastern University as they notched a 66-53 win Wednesday in the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Tigresses improved to 6-7 with the victory, creating much needed separation while improving to solo third in the team standings. The Lady Tamaraws succumbed to 2-11 in the season.
The Tigresses used a 9-0 run in the first to break a 10-all deadlock and create a 19-10 bubble.
Later in the second period, baskets by Misaela Larosa and Bettina Penaflor pushed the UST lead to 28-17, but three straight triples — two from Precious Arellado and another from Loraine Ventura — pulled FEU within 26-28.
It was back and forth from there, but UST took care of inside scoring towards the end of the third quarter to increase the lead to 9, 49-40.
More baskets by Penaflor inside and a trey by Angel Anies made it 58-44 for the Tigresses early in the fourth period where the team dominated and never looked back.
Candice Magdaluyo delivered with 17 points including 3-for-6 from three-point area while Penaflor had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
UST had a 34-28 lead in points in the paint while also forcing 25 turnovers from FEU, leading to 30 turnover points.
Clare Castro had 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Lady Tamaraws while Arellado topscored with 15 markers including four triples.
Scores:
UST (66) – Magdaluyo 17, Penaflor 14, Larosa 10, Cortes 8, Brillante 8, Anies 7, Felisarta 2, Gandalla 0, Jerez 0.
FEU (53) – Arellado 15, Castro 13, Adriano 13, Hortaleza 5, Ventura 3, Okunlola 2, Payadon 2, Baldonado 0, Quiapo 0, Mamaril 0, Abat 0.
Quarterscores: 19-14, 34-31, 49-40, 66-53
