THE UST Tigresses absorbed a 54-74 beating against a relentless Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles to end their UAAP women’s basketball campaign at The Arena in San Juan last Sept. 16.
Maica Cortes steered UST with 17 markers and 17 rebounds, but shot a measly 5-of-16 from the field en route to UST’s sixth-place finish. Sarah Mercado paced the Lady Eagles with 18 points and seven boards.
Kim Reyes and Lore Rivera unloaded back-to-back baskets in the third canto to bring UST to within six, 35-41, with 2:29 left. But Ateneo’s Marie Aseron and Angelica Morales combined for seven straight points to close the quarter at 53-41 and shut the Tigresses’ comeback hopes.
The Lady Eagles also pounced the Tigresses from the outside with an 8-of-17 three-point shooting, three of which were made in the third quarter to bury UST, 37-46.
Mercado became more aggressive under the basket and dropped 11 of her points in the fourth quarter, where UST was scoreless in the first four minutes.
Kristine Siapoc and Cortes tried to carry the Tigresses on their shoulders at the latter part of the second frame when they led a 6-0 blitz, 24-31. But Siapoc twisted her knee on a drive to the basket with 49 seconds remaining and was unable to return in the game.
Despite grabbing 30 offensive rebounds, the Tigresses converted a lowly nine second-chance points.
In their previous game, the Tigresses put up a gallant fourth-quarter stand against De La Salle University, but still suffered a 55-63 loss. Rivera led UST with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Aracelie Abaca starred for La Salle with 20 markers.
