UST Golden Tigresses pounded the UP Fighting Maroons, 84-57, in their first game of the second round of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tacky Tacatac powered the Golden Tigresses with 23 points, while Karylle Sierba also contributed 15 points.

“First half is a seesaw battle, from UP sabi ko lang sa dugout tayo naman sa second half puputok. We should start on our defense, and yun nga, we force UP to 32 turnovers, and we have 38 points. I think that spells the difference for the game,” said UST head coach Haydee Ong.

It was a tight game in the first quarter, with the Golden Tigresses only leading by six points. Tacatac ended the quarter with a three-point shot, 22-16.

UP’s Kye Pesquera showered the Golden Tigresses with threes that tied the game at 28, but UST countered with long bombs from Angelika Soriano, Tacatac, and Sierba, 41-38.

The Golden Tigresses continued their dominance over the Fighting Maroons, prowling through a 14-point cushion anchored on Sierba’s two three-pointers. Tacatac closed the quarter with a two, 60-46.

Louna Ozar tried to rally UP in the fourth quarter, scoring two consecutive two-pointers, reducing the gap to 10, 60-50.

But Tacatac lent support to the Golden Tigresses, scoring baskets from behind the arc to establish a 27-point lead to win the match, 84-57.

Ozar led the Fighting Maroons through the losing effort with 15 points, while Pesquera added 10 points.

The Golden Tigresses extended their winning streak to five with a 7-1 win-loss record.

They are currently sitting at the second spot ahead of their match against Ateneo Blue Eagles on Saturday, Sept. 19, in their home court at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.