Lady Ram dynamic duo takes it to the Monsters

After a disappointing loss to 2A West regional rival Yuma Catholic on Friday night, the Lady Rams looked to get back on the winning track against the Monsters of Gila Bend.

With Lady Ram starter Kayla Valisto sidelined due to an ankle injury, the shorthanded Lady Rams knew this was a must win.

Ram sharp shooter Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid drained a three-pointer from NBA distance to open up the game. Nuguid drove the lane and was fouled on the lay up, putting her at the line where she converted the old fashioned three-point play.

Monster guard Ashley Diaz drained a three-pointer from the corner. Diaz’s backcourt mate Genesis Fernandez stole the ball and went coast to coast for the easy lay in. Forward Diamond Oschner was fouled down low and converted two from the charity stripe, giving the Monsters a 9-6 lead.

Lady Ram Nuguid knocked down a jumper in the lane and found Jessica Schwanbeck in transition for an easy lay up. Fernandez, running the break, dished to Diaz for the lay in, giving the Monsters a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Nuguid knocked down a three-pointer from the wing to open up the second quarter. The Lady Rams took a 15-13 lead when Nuguid converted on two free throw attempts.

Monster guard Fernandez drove to the hoop for two, tying the game at 15. Diaz found Oschner in the paint for two, giving the Monsters a 17-15 lead.

Nuguid knocked a jumper for two and a three from the top of the key, giving the Lady Rams a 20-17 lead. Lady Ram Danielle Heidema dished to Schwanbeck in the lane for two. Schwanbeck, who struggled against Yuma Catholic, started to regain her confidence as she knocked down her patented 15-foot baseline jumper and had a put back down low to give the Lady Rams a 27-20 lead at the half.

Lady Ram Nuguid found Schwanbeck down low to open up the third quarter. Monster guard Fernandez nailed a jumper in the lane. The duo hooked up again when Nuguid fired a sweet pass through the lane to Schwanbeck for two, giving the Lady Rams a 31-22 lead. Schwanbeck knocked down a jumper from the elbow. Monster guard Diaz knocked down a three-pointer from the wing, a three from the corner and one from the top of the key, cutting the Lady Ram lead to 37-31.

Nuguid drained a three-pointer from the top of the key and bounced a pass to Schwanbeck across the lane for an easy two, giving the Lady Rams a 43-31 lead. Schwanbeck got the rebound and put back at the buzzer, giving the Lady Rams a 49-35 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Monster guard Fernandez had a nice floater down the lane to open up the fourth quarter. Schwanbeck picked up another bucket in the paint, giving the Lady Rams a 51-35 lead. The dynamic duo hooked up again when Nuguid bounced a pass to Schwanbeck in the paint for two.

Gila Bend’s Fernandez scored on the rebound and put back for two, then found Diaz on the break for an easy lay in. Fernandez knocked a jumper in the lane, cutting the Lady Ram lead to 53-49.

Lady Ram Nuguid knocked down a jumper in the lane and converted a lay in for two while Schwanbeck drained a jumper in the lane and another from the baseline to seal the 63-49 victory for the Lady Rams.

Ram point guard Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid, who had 31 points, led the Ram scoring, followed by Jessica Schwanbeck with 30. The duo accounted for 61 of 63 points scored.

The Lady Rams are now 6-1 in regional play and are still in the driver’s seat in the 2A region with two home games remaining (at 7 p.m.) with Tonopah Valley on Jan. 30 and Baboquivari on Feb. 2.