NATIONAL University suffered a tough 66-65 overtime defeat at the hands of University of North Colorado to open its campaign in the 2019 Buddha's Light International Association Cup in Kaohsiung on Wednesday.
The Lady Bulldogs lost a 65-62 lead in the final 2:01 as Alecia Whyte scored on a layup before Ali Meyer capitalized on Camille Clarin's miss on the other end and scored the go-ahead undergoal stab with 43.8 seconds remaining.
Clarin committed a costly turnover on her pass to Jack Animam in the paint as the Bears pulled off the tight victory.
It was a deflating loss for NU, which almost got the win in thanks to a 14-point fourth quarter only to see Alexis Chapman knot the score at 60 with a fastbreak layup in the last 6.2 in regulation.
Rookie Clarin fired 13 points in her first game for the Lady Bulldogs, on top of five rebounds and two steals, but committed four miscues in the game.
Lamama Kapinga also added 13 points and eight boards, as Kaye Pingol had 13 points and two rebounds for the girls of coach Pat Aquino.
Animam had eight points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Rhena Itesi got five points, seven boards, three dimes, and two blocks in the NU loss.
UNC leaned on Alisha Davis, who poured 12 points, nine rebounds, and two rejections, as Chapman, Whyte, and Kurstyn Harden all had nine.
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