Lady Rams down Antelope 49-34

After winning the Copa Classic Basketball tournament the last week of December, the Lady Rams of Maricopa continued their winning ways against the Lady Rams of Antelope Friday night.

Maricopa’s Lady Rams got on the board first when point guard Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid bounced a pass to Jessica Schwanbeck in the lane for two. Nuguid grabbed the offensive rebound and drained a three-pointer from the wing, giving Maricopa a 5-0 lead; she drained another three-pointer from the wing, stretching the lead to 9-2.

Schwanbeck grabbed the offensive board and knocked down a short baseline jumper. Post player Kayla Valisto grabbed the defensive rebound and fired an outlet pass to Nuguid, who drove strong to the basket for two. Antelope struggled to find the basket and trailed the Lady Rams of Maricopa 13-4 at the end of the first quarter.

Antelope opened up the second quarter by converting back-to-back baskets in the paint. Nuguid dished to Schwanbeck for an easy lay up; then Schwanbeck drained a jumper from the wing, giving the Lady Rams a 19-8 lead. Antelope’s Daisy Maldonado drained a three-pointer from the wing, but Lady Ram enforcer Valisto had two put backs late in the second quarter, giving Maricopa a 23-13 lead at the half.

Maricopa’s Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid (#33) takes a three-pointer from the baseline during the game against Antelope Friday night.

Lady Ram Sarah Scofield (#13) shoots a free throw in the game’s first half Friday night against Antelope.

Schwanbeck found Valisto down low for two to open up the third quarter. Antelope’s Maldonado knocked down her second three-pointer from the wing; then Maricopa’s Nuguid dished to Valisto for another basket down low.

After Antelope’s Maldonado knocked down her third three-pointer from the wing, Valisto grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to Schwanbeck, who drained a 15-footer, giving the Lady Rams a 29-19 lead. Nuguid, with a defensive steal, drove to the hoop, stopped and popped for two off the glass.

On the next offensive procession Nuguid drained a three-pointer from the wing, stretching the Lady Rams’ lead to 36-21. Antelope’s Maldonado drained her fourth three-pointer of the game, but, with only seconds remaining in the quarter, Nuguid went up and converted a double clutch three-pointer as the buzzer went off, giving the Lady Rams a 39-25 lead at the end of the third.

Schwanbeck had a put back in the paint to open up the fourth quarter; Valisto had a put back of her own, giving the Lady Rams a 43-26 lead. Nuguid threw an outlet pass to Valisto, who fired a pass to Schwanbeck for a short jumper. Nuguid picked up two more assists when she found Schwanbeck and Valisto down low. The Lady Rams of Maricopa picked up the 49-34 victory.

Lady Ram Jessica Schwanbeck (#34) kicks the ball back out from underneath the hoop in the second half of Friday’s game against Antelope.

The Lady Rams of Maricopa had three starters finish the game with double digit scoring. Point guard Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid finished the game with 18 points, followed by Jessica Schwanbeck with 16 and Kayla Valisto with 12.

Come out and support the Lady Rams at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, when they take on the Warriors of San Pasqual.

Remaining home games for the Lady Rams (all at 7 p.m.):

Jan 9 vs. San Pasqual
Jan 19 vs. Yuma Catholic
Jan 20 vs. Gila Bend
Jan 30 vs. Tonopah Valley
Feb 2 vs. Baboquivari

Photos by Jeremy Knop