National University resumed its dominant ways and clipped reigning champion University of Santo Tomas, 76-70, to stay perfect in UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Lady Bulldogs, who were already assured of a semifinal bonus, went brilliant in the fourth quarter as Cielo Pagdulangan provided the goods and engineered an 15-3 run that built a 72-62 separation which, despite Tacky Tacatac’s hot-shooting night, the Golden Tigresses couldn’t reach.

That resulted in NU’s 11th straight victory to remain the lone undefeated team, while halting UST’s six-game winning streak to slip at 9-2.

The Lady Bulldogs also inched their way for another preliminaries sweep with three games left in their calendar.

Pagdulangan drained 17 points while Camille Clarin paced with 21 points along with seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. Karl Pingol added 11 points.

Tacatac, meanwhile, went hot from the rainbow territory after firing five triples to finish with 21 points, while Kent Pastrana and Cee-jay Maglupay backed her up with 14 and 10, respectively, in a losing cause for the Tigresses.

Earlier, La Salle ended its two-game skid after edging Fear Eastern University, 64-60, while also keeping its playoff contention alive.

Thanks to their 13-2 blitz in the final canto, the Lady Archers improved their card to 3-8 – tying the UP Fighting Maroons and the Lady Tamaraws at the standings. The win also reaffirmed La Salle’s mastery over the Morayta-based squad after the former’s team 89-65 demolition in their first encounter last Sept. 25.

Bettina Binaohan starred for DLSU with 15 points on top eight rebounds, four rebounds, two assists and three steals while Luisa San Juan, and Kyla Sunga added 14 and 11 markers.

While MJ Manguiat (16), Yvette Villanueva (15) and EJ Lopez’s (14) scoring sprees for FEU went down the drain. 

(Women’s basketball)

First Game

DLSU (64) – Binaohan 15, San Juan 14, Sunga 11, Sario 8, Mendoza 7, Dalisay 7, Paraiso 2, Dela Paz 0, Camba 0, Barcierto 0, Santos 0, Delos Reyes 0.

FEU (60) – Manguiat 16, Villanueva 15, Lopez 14, Pasilang 5, Paras 4, Ong 4, Nagma 2, Salvani 0, Dela Torre 0.

Quarterscores: 16-10, 30-32, 46-55, 64-60

Second Game

NU (76) – Clarin 21, Pagdulagan 17, Pingol 11, Surada 8, Canuto 6, Betanio 5, Fabruada 4, Cayabyab 4, Konateh 0, Villanueva 0, Solis 0, Alterado 0.
UST (70) – Tacatac 21, Pastrana 14, Maglupay 10, Santos 8, Sierba 8, Bron 4, Ambos 2, Serrano 2, N. Danganan 1, Soriano 0, Pescador 0, Relliquette 0.
Quarterscores: 23-19, 44-40, 61-59, 76-70