Lady Rams turn back Moriarty 35-31

ALBUQUERQUE — Holding off a late run, the fourth-seeded Portales Lady Rams advanced to the state Class 4A semifinals on Tuesday with a 35-31 win over District 4-4A rival Moriarty at The Pit.

Led by 10 points from sophomore Taylee Rippee, the Lady Rams secured the victory from the free throw line, sinking 11-of-19 attempts to just 3-of-8 for Moriarty.

Heading into the contest, Portales coach Wade Fraze said stopping the Lady Pintos’ Alyssa Adams would be a key to victory. Adams finished with 10 points for the Lady Pintos (19-8), but only two of them came in the first three periods.

“I think the game was a tribute to how well both teams know each other.” said Fraze. “I want to give credit to Moriarty, they came ready to play; we just won the game at the free throw line today.”

Portales (18-10) outrebounded the Lady Pintos 40-27, led by Lindsay Blakey with 12 boards to go with her seven points. Meantime, Rippee fell just short of a double-double, finishing with eight rebounds.

Portales now faces another district rival in top-seeded Hope Christian (27-2) in an 8 a.m. Thursday semifinal at The Pit. The Huskies, who thumped Sandia Prep 71-27 on Tuesday, defeated the Lady Rams in all three of their matchups during the season.

“We’re in the toughest district in the state and it seems we came up here and are playing the district tournament all over again,” Fraze said. “But I would rather have played Hope as much as we have than come up here and see them for the first time during the state tournament.”