THE UST Tigresses succumbed to the stifling defense of Far Eastern University (FEU), 56-68, in their UAAP women’s basketball game at The Arena in San Juan last Sept. 9.
Kristine Siapoc steered the Tigresses with 14 points, while team captain Lore Rivera, who played with a right shoulder injury, contributed 11 points.
UST’s scoring leader Maica Cortes, who displayed double-double performances in recent games, was limited to four points, all from the foul line.
Karen Columna starred for the Lady Tamaraws with 25 markers, shooting 5-of-7 from the three-point line.
Siapoc, Jeanine Ong, and Rivera presided over a 9-2 UST run midway in the fourth canto, highlighted by Rivera’s layup that saved a broken play. But time was not on their side as the Lady Tamaraws led UST by 10 with 16 seconds left to play, 56-66.
The Tigresses also mounted a rally to start the third quarter behind Rivera’s fastbreak layup and Kelly Salvador’s back-to-back baskets in transition to tie the game at 27-all.
But FEU regained composure and unloaded six-straight points capped by a Columna trey at the 7:18 mark.
After tying the game, UST managed only nine points to end the third frame and trailed the Lady Tams by 11, 36-47.
The Lady Tams pounded the Tigresses, 19-4 in the first quarter before UST outscored FEU, 17-8, in the second frame.
“We should focus first on defense before offense in our next game against La Salle,” Rivera said.
Box scores:
UST 56- Siapoc 14, Rivera 11, Mejia 10, Ong 9, Salvador 6, Cortes 4, Andrade 2, Tingcang 0
FEU 68- Columna 25, Sambile 12, Lim 12, Gesalan 10, Borja 5, Siat 4, Astrero 0, Valenzona 0, Supnet 0, Soriano 0, Owatan 0, Gabriel 0, Tanaman 0
Quarter scores: 4-19, 21-27, 36-47, 56-68
