THE UST Growling Tigresses fell short in overtime against the league-leading UP Fighting Maroons, 73-69, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
With UST up by five after the first quarter, 19-14, the Tigresses went head-to-head against UP in the second quarter to keep a five-point cushion at halftime, 34-29.
The Tigresses extended their lead to 10 early in the third frame after a Kent Pastrana triple, a Brigette Santos floater and a Rachel Ambos layup, 41-31.
However, the Fighting Maroons went on a 14-6 blitz to cut UST’s lead to two before the payoff period, 47-45.
UP’s Kaye Pesquera sizzled in the second half, sinking four of her six triples that powered the Fighting Maroons’ comeback. She scored 17 points in total.
Trailing by four with 1:17 remaining, 63-59, Pesquera converted a triple to cut the lead by one before Louna Ozar split her freebies that tied the game, 63-all.
The Tigresses had one last possession for a possible game-winner, but they weren’t able to put up a shot.
An Ozar jumper and a Favour Onoh putback pushed UP’s lead to four, 73-69.
UP and UST went scoreless in the final 1:17 of the overtime.
UST struggled from deep, converting only 18.8 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Pastrana steered UST with 19 points, while Ferrer tallied 14 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, and five assists.
Ozar chalked up 16 markers with four steals for UP, while Christie Bariquit had 15 markers.
UST dropped to a 3-2 win-loss record, while UP improved to a 5-0 slate for its best start since Season 71.
The Growling Tigresses will try to bounce back against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Oct. 18, Wednesday, 1 p.m. at the Adamson University Gym.
