There was no stopping National University as it dispatched Ateneo, 66-58, to sweep the first-round eliminations of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5.

The Lady Bulldogs leaned on their balanced attack in the fourth quarter to outshine Kacey Dela Rosa’s outstanding showing for the Lady Eagles en route to their seventh consecutive victory in as many outings at the helm.

The triumph also pushed Ateneo to a 4-3 card to remain at fourth.

Cielo Pagdunganan and Tin Cayabyab anchored the Jhocson-based squad with 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Karl Ann Pingol and Angel Cayabyab backed them up with 10 points apiece.

Reigning MVP Dela Rosa, for her part, scattered 21 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals while Junize Calago added 12 markers in a losing cause for the Lady Eagles.

It was a low-scoring affair in the first two frames, but NU broke away to grab a 28-20 edge in the second quarter.

However, Dela Rosa exhibited her versatility knocking down from the paint to the rainbow area to keep Ateneo at bay, 28-26, entering the break.

The game even got tighter in third, though, but the Bulldogs gradually went ahead thanks to Pagdunganan, Pingol, and Cayabyab.

Same as the three frames, Dela Rosa and Ateneo couldn't reach within striking distance as NU had answers in every run they had.

Earlier, University of Santo Tomas built an early separation and fended off Far Eastern University, 66-57, to seal its sixth win against one loss at second place.

The Golden Tigresses grabbed the tempo in the first half particularly in the second quarter where they took a 35-19 lead off Tacky Tacatac’s triple and never looked back despite the Tamaraws’ resurgence in the opening minutes of the third canto.

As usual, Kent Pastrana flashed her fiery form as she put up a double-double performance of 22 points and 11 rebounds along with two steals and two blocks while Tacatac added nine points. 

Shane Salvani’s all-around effort of 16 points, 15 rebounds and five assists and Mary Manguiat’s 11 points couldn’t save FEU as it sustained its sixth loss to slip at 1-6.

In the junior high school division, FEU-Dasmariñas (6-1) took solo second after beating UST (4-3), 90-83, while NUNS (3-4) returned to the winning column via a 91-89 escape over Ateneo.

The scores:

NU (66) – Pagdulagan 12, Cayabyab 11, Pingol 10, Surada 10, Fabruada 8, Betanio 7, Clarin 4, Konateh 2, Solis 2, Canuto 0, Ico 0, Pring 0, Medina 0.

Ateneo (58) – Dela Rosa 21, Calago 12, Makanjoula 9, Aquirre 5, Oani 4, Villacruz 3, Cancio 2, Batongbakal 2, Angala 0, Cruza 0, Nieves 0.

Quarterscores: 18-13, 28-26, 47-44, 66-58