Tigresses buck Warriors, extend win drive to five

MANILA, Philippines - UST struggled past UE, 76-74, to stretch its win run to five in the UAAP Season 74 women’s basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle gym yesterday.

The Tigresses were dragged to six deadlocks and nine lead changes by the gritty Lady Warriors in the surprisingly close match but toughened up in the end to hack out the close victory.

La Salle, behind Hannah Viterbo’s 16 points and Aracelie Abaca and Inna Corcuera’s 13 and 12 points, respectively, notched its fourth win in five games with a 62-52 victory over National University.

Abaca also hauled down 16 rebounds and Corcuera added 14 caroms for the Lady Archers, who dealt the Bullpups their fourth loss in five outings. Kristina Tolentino led NU with 20 points and 11 rebounds and Gemma Miranda with 16 markers and 13 rebounds.

Dianne Ventura, who had 10 points and four rebounds for UE, missed what could have been the game-winner for the Lady Warriors in the closing seconds.

In the ensuing UST offensive, Mary Joy Galicia drew a foul and split her charities that proved enough to give UST its fifth straight win.

Galicia had a game-high 25 points to go with her nine rebounds, while three other Tigresses finished in double figures – Rina Laud 16, Juvelyn Andaya 16 and Marian Mejia 11 and 13 rebounds.