NMMI Sports Press

The Lady Colts ran into a buzzsaw Tuesday night at the Godfrey Athletic Center, as the sixth-ranked Tucumcari Lady Rattlers scored the first 19 points of the game and missed about as many shots as the Institute made.

Tucumcari’s big centers and quick guards made it difficult for the Lady Colts to move the ball or find open shots and talented sophomore power forward Kyla Lopez displayed her ability to make shots from anywhere on the floor throughout the game.

NMMI’s first points on the night came off offensive rebounds, with senior post Yasmeen Marrufo putting the Lady Colts on the scoreboard late in the first quarter, followed by a putback by sophomore wing/post Siany McGhan.

Marrufo scored again on a short jumper from the left side of the paint to make it 25-6 after one period of play.

The Lady Rattlers went on a 10-0 run to begin the second quarter before freshman guard Jadyn Wade added to the NMMI total with a quick turnaround jumper at the free-throw line off the pass from freshman wing Maria Molina.

Down 44-8 to start the second half, Lackey opened play by draining a 3-pointer from the top of the arc.

Senior posts Paulina Sanchez and Anastasia Ament were smothered inside by the Tucumcari bigs all night, but each figured out how to get to the basket in the second half and earn free throws.

Sanchez was 2-for-2 from the charity stripe while Ament scored the final three points for the Lady Colts on a long two-point jumper from the right wing and a 1-for-2 trip to the line late in the fourth quarter.

Tucumcari moved to 5-0 in District 4-3A and ensured their second straight district crown.

The loss drops NMMI to 1-4 in district play with one game remaining in the regular season — senior night in the Godfrey against Dexter on Friday at 5 p.m. The Lady Colts defeated the Lady Demons 33-20 in Dexter on Feb. 13.