The UST Growling Tigresses survived the clash with UP Lady Fighting Maroons in a 74-72 squeaker to open the second of the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Kent Pastrana led UST with 25 points and six rebounds while Tantoy Ferrer tallied 19 points and nine boards, including her three-point play down the stretch to get ahead by nine points before the last two minutes.

After winning their third straight game, the Tigresses increased their win-loss record to 6-2.

The Tigresses executed a 13-3 run to control the momentum after a 55-all deadlock in the fourth quarter, 71-62.

Following Pastrana’s basket gain a four point advantage, 73-69, UP’s crucial missed free throws from Louna Ozar cost the Lady Maroons the game while Tacky Tacatac sank a free throw to establish a five-point advantage with about 10 seconds left, 74-69.

Three lead changes were featured at the start of the second half with no one cracking a double digit lead and ending on a tie to end the quarter, 55-55.

The opening salvo began with an early 6-2 lead by UP but UST quickly responded with a 14-5 run, 16-11.

The Tigresses managed to maintain a five-point cushion to finish the first period, 22-17 despite a personal five-point trip by UP's Ozar in the dying minutes of the quarter.

UP chopped the lead to a single point in the early moments of the second quarter but Pastrana scored nine straight points to stretch the Tigresses' lead to 10 points, 31-21.

Ozar lifted the Lady Maroons with 17 points on three three-point makes while Kaye Pesquera added 12 points as UP now shares the No. 2 spot with UST.

The UST Growling Tigresses will look to extend their three-game winning-streak as they face the De La Salle Green Archers on Sunday, October 29 in the same venue.

TAGS: UST, UST Growling Tigresses, UAAP, UAAP Season 86, Women's Basketball

Quarter Scores:

22-17, 40-39, 55-55, 74-72

The Scores:

UST 72- Pastrana 25, Ferrer 19, Dionisio 10, Ambos 6, Villasin 4, Tacatac 4, Soriano 3, Santos 3.

UP 70- Ozar 17, Pesquera 12, Bariquit 11, Sanchez 11, Maw 7, Tapawan 4, Onoh 4, Vingno 4, Godez 2.