By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

SUniG women's basketball SUTD vs NTU

Lim Jia Min (#6) of NTU goes for a layup against SUTD. The guard led NTU with a well-rounded game, including nine points, seven rebounds and 11 assists. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

National University of Singapore, Monday, September 14, 2015 — A balanced Nanyang Technological University (NTU) continued their dominance in the Singapore University Games (SUniG) women’s basketball championship, defeating debutants Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) 97-34 for their fourth straight win.

“Everyone is very committed and everyone can contribute to the scoreline, and that is what I like about this SUniG season,” said NTU captain Yukie Yoshida (#21).

“Back then, some of us had ASEAN University Games and other commitments so we couldn’t really train together, but I like it that everyone improved over these few months of training.”

Lim Jia Min (#6) led NTU with a well-rounded game, barely missing a double-double with nine points, seven boards and 11 assists, while SUTD enjoyed a 17-point effort from centre Sng Ei Jia (#14).

While SUTD managed to contain NTU’s offence in the early minutes of the game, Yukie Yoshida’s (#21) insertion into the game turned the situation around for the defending champions and they managed to wrest control over the game.

SUTD were helmed by floor general Valarie Yeoh (#21) and Sng (#14), with both staying on court for the full length of the game. The pair lacked support from their inexperienced team-mates and were eventually worn out by NTU, who rotated the bench to give ample rest to their players.

Despite the loss, Yeoh (#21) remained positive about SUTD’s future seasons.

“It is quite tough for us to play against teams with many national players and while it is demoralizing, we have to keep the morale up and keep our focus on court,” she said.

“Most of us are fresh so the biggest takeaway for us would be the experience on court and it’s really a lot about building our chemistry, which is not there yet, as we have only been together for about two months.”

Despite losing starting centre Amelia Lee (#10) to injury prior to their season, NTU appeared poised to defend their title, having won all their games by comfortable margins.

The powerhouses will meet National University of Singapore (NUS), who beat Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) 49-43, in the final. The game will be played on Thursday, September 17, at 7 p.m.

“We lost Amelia to injury and teams like SIM and NUS have strong centres, so it’s going to be quite hard for us, because we didn’t train with a smaller unit and we really need to get all the rebounds,” said Yoshida (#21) on the upcoming final.

“But I’m pretty sure everyone is quite confident and we can fight together.”

Score by quarter
SUTD vs NTU
1st quarter: 6-26
2nd quarter: 6-24 (12-50)
3rd quarter: 8-27 (20-77)
4th quarter: 14-20 (34-97)

Top scorers
SUTD
Sng Ei Jia (#14) – 17 points

NTU
Lim Zhi Yan Amanda (#9) – 18 points (2 x 3-pointers)
Yip Wen Yi, Merlin (#11) – 16 points (1 x 3-pointer)
Si Xu Vongsuvanish (#3) – 14 points
See Kai Ting Shermaine (#7) – 10 points

SUTD Roster
Ang Shing Yee Erica (#4), Kajol Sethia (#5), Zhao Juan (#6), Cindy Ong Wen Ling(#7), Christabella Adelina (#10), Bianca Su Fen Gill (#13), Sng Ei Jia (#14), Yeoh Chuen Wen Valarie (#21), Nur Amalina Bte Md Halim (#99)

NTU Roster
Si Xu Vongsuvanish (#3), Lim Jia Min (#6), See Kai Ting Shermaine (#7), Gladys Marie Lucin Molino (#8), Lim Zhi Yan Amanda (#9), Lee Yilin, Amelia (#10), Yip Wen Yi, Merlin (#11), Tan Zi Rou (#13), Tan Chu Qing Yolanda (#15), Yukie Yoshida (#21), Laura Lippert Lessel (#23), Wong Kar Wai (#27)

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