Defending seven-time champion National University cruised past De La Salle University, taking a wire-to-wire 91-53 triumph to score back-to-back wins in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Bulldogs improved their record to 4-1 to go second in the standings for share of second with Ateneo.

Camille Clarin enjoyed a hot shooting day for NU, covering 7-of-12 from the field to produce 19 points as well as six rebounds and one steal. Clarin was also a plus-38 on the floor for the Lady Bulldogs.

NU started the game strongly, putting up a 35-13 cushion with over six minutes left in the second quarter behind the efforts of Clarin, Angel Surada, Karl Pingol, and Princess Fabruada.

“Technically, it was the challenge for us today to keep the number two spot as we played this game,” said Lady Bulldogs coach Aris Dimaunahan. “Glad that we did our job today right from the get-go. Part of the good start that we had was these two girls (Clarin and Stefanie Berbarabe) beside me. They did their job early on.”

La Salle, though, tried to mount a comeback after the halftime break. Luisa San Juan and Lee Sario converted consecutive three-point shots to trim the deficit to 49-40 with 5:32 remaining in the third frame.

The Lady Bulldogs then put the finishing touches to their demolition job of the Lady Archers in the payoff period. NU led as much 91-53 with less than a minute left in the game thanks to baskets from Clarin, Fabruada, Rhocel Bartolo, Aloja Betanio, and Pingol.

“Again, basketball is a game of runs,” said Dimaunahan. “They did their run. We kinda huddled up ourselves and talked about it and stayed locked in, especially on the defensive side. They were outrebounding us because of their foreign athlete (Aji Bojang).”

Fabruada followed Clarin’s lead with 13 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Pingol had 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists for NU.

Berbarabe, who is a one-and-done recruit out of Westmont College, had a solid outing for the Lady Bulldogs, contributing seven assists, three rebounds, two points, and two steals. The Gilas Pilipinas member was also a plus-30 on the floor.

NU will next face University of the East at 3 p.m. this Wednesday at the Adamson University Gym.

On the other hand, Sario led the Lady Archers with 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Betts Binaohan contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists while La Salle’s Sambian student-athlete Aji Bojang had 10 points and 16 rebounds but five turnovers.

The Lady Archers actually outrebounded the Lady Bulldogs 46 to 40.

La Salle fell to 1-4 in the standings, still at sixth.

The Lady Archers will look to bounce back against league leaders University of the Philippines this Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Adamson Gym.

The Scores:

NU 91 - Clarin 19, Fabruada 13, Pingol 11, Bartolo 9, Solis 8, Surada 7, Betanio 7, Cayabyab 6, Canuto 4, Alcantara 3, Berberabe 2, Talas 2, Magbanua 0, Ico 0, Alterado 0.

DLSU 53 - Sario 14, Binaohan 12, Bojang 10, Dela Paz 5, San Juan 5, Delos Reyes 4, Mendoza 2, Dalisay 1, Paraiso 0, Villa-cua 0.

Quarterscores: 23-11, 45-33, 59-45, 91-53.