UBA: Fo Guang University's General Division Women's Basketball Team Advances to Nationals
Fo Guang Keeps Their Cool, Excels on Both Ends to Defeat Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences
The 113th academic year Fubon Life UBA College Basketball League General Division Women's Northern Region Ranking Tournament kicked off today (March 26) at the National Defense Medical Center. Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences (TUNHS) once again faced off against Fo Guang University. The two teams had already met in the regular season, with TUNHS taking the win. Though the start of today’s game was closely contested, Fo Guang gained the upper hand from the second quarter onward with solid rebounding and dominant plays in the paint. Despite TUNHS's efforts to keep the game close through aggressive defense and outside shooting, their overall field goal percentage fell short. In the end, Fo Guang claimed a 54–37 victory and secured a spot in the national tournament.
TUNHS opened the scoring with technical foul free throws, but Fo Guang quickly responded. Chou Chao-Wei assisted Tsai Wan-Ting with a successful jumper, followed by a fast break layup from Lee Yi-Chun off a steal, shifting the game tempo in their favor. TUNHS initially struggled offensively, but regained footing with rebounds and defense. Lo Ching-Ya assisted Chueh Chien-Fei for points and cut the deficit through free throws. The game remained tight, with TUNHS's Lin Tsai-Wei tying the game with a jumper and Kao Li-Wen putting them ahead with free throws. However, Fo Guang maintained composure, regaining the lead through free throws and inside plays by Chou Chao-Wei, Tsai Wan-Ting, and Chang Tzu-Hsuan. TUNHS’s Chin Li-Ting grabbed an offensive board to assist Lin Hsiu-Hui for a jumper, ending the first quarter tied at 10–10.
In the second quarter, Fo Guang’s Chang Tzu-Hsuan and Chuang Shih-Ying continuously drew fouls in the paint, making the most of their free throws and extending the lead. TUNHS responded with a morale-boosting three-pointer by Lo Ching-Ya and tried to create fast-break opportunities from defensive rebounds. However, their outside shooting remained inconsistent. Fo Guang capitalized with a well-rounded offensive attack, combining inside dominance and smooth teamwork, leading to a 30–16 halftime advantage.
After the break, TUNHS pushed the pace to cut the lead. Lo Ching-Ya and Chin Li-Ting connected in the paint, while the defense intensified to disrupt Fo Guang's rhythm. Kao Li-Wen and Lo Ching-Ya made successful steals and transition plays, with Kao converting a three-point play to further reduce the deficit. But Fo Guang, led by Tsai Wan-Ting and Chang Tzu-Hsuan, responded with fast breaks and long-range shooting to stabilize their position. Chou Chao-Wei and Chuang Shih-Ying kept contributing inside, helping Fo Guang maintain and extend the lead to 44–25 by the end of the third quarter.
In the final quarter, TUNHS’s Lin Tsai-Wei hit a three, followed by a steal and another three-point play to close the gap. Their gritty defense held Fo Guang scoreless for the first four minutes. The drought was finally broken by Chou Chao-Wei’s mid-range jumper, and Lee Yi-Chun reignited the offense with a three-pointer. Fo Guang then held steady with reliable free throws, eventually securing a 54–37 victory and advancing to the national stage.
After the game, Fo Guang head coach Chou Chun-San highlighted the key to victory: "Today, our players kept their composure. In the past, they’d often lose rhythm under pressure. But today, even in a tight start, they stayed calm and played their own game." He also emphasized that their improved perimeter defense and capitalizing on offensive opportunities were crucial, and he encouraged the players to maintain this mindset in the upcoming rounds and fully enjoy each game.
Fo Guang’s core players Chou Chao-Wei and Lee Yi-Chun expressed their goal for the next stage: "We’ll continue to enjoy playing the game and make the most of every moment on the court," hoping to play with no regrets moving forward.
