The NU Lady Bulldogs banked on pesky defense and composure to weather the Ateneo Blue Eagles' furious rally in UAAP Season 88 women's basketball.
The defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs survived a furious Ateneo Blue Eagles rally to secure an 83-79 win in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday, October 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NU improved to 5-1, holding off a late surge from Ateneo, which fell to 4-2 after nearly pulling off what would have been its first victory over the Lady Bulldogs in 24 meetings dating back to 2012.
Karl Pingol led the charge for NU with a season-high 22 points, along with six rebounds, two assists, and four steals. She was also perfect from the stripe, hitting 8-for-8 free throws, including the clutch three in the final seconds that sealed the win.
Ateneo mounted a stunning 15-0 fourth-quarter run, briefly taking the lead at 79-75 with two minutes left, but NU’s defense and composure down the stretch made the difference.
The Lady Bulldogs forced crucial turnovers and hit key free throws to maintain their title defense momentum.
NU will look to close out the first round on a high note when it faces UE on October 22.
[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]