Lady Cards use last-second free throws to nip Rowe, 35-32

HARLINGEN - Holding their opponents to five points in the fourth quarter, the Harlingen Lady Cardinals held off the scrappy McAllen Rowe Lady Warriors 35-32 at Harlingen High on Tuesday night.

Both teams battled to keep it close the entire game, but Ashley Adams sunk two free throws with 11.5 seconds remaining to secure the win for the Lady Cards.

Harlingen head coach Nora Zamarippa praised her defense, saying they played well enough toward the end to secure the victory.

"Ashley Adams made some crucial free throws there near the end too," she said. "That sealed up the win there."

Warriors coach Raul Vega was also proud of his team's effort, especially since their leading scorer, Brittany Nelson, was out due to a concussion.

"With as many young kids as we had on the court, I'm really proud. They played tough," Vega said. "It was a good experience for us. The kids stepped up when, really, they could have let down."

The teams battled back and forth all night, particularly in the second half.

After a 17-all deadlock at halftime, the Warriors took the lead for the first time with 3:10 left in the third to go up 23-21.

The Lady Cards battled back to tie it at 27 with 7:33 left in the game, after which the Warriors pulled ahead 30-27 with 6:46 left.

Then the Lady Cards dug in. They scored six points and held Rowe scoreless until there was less than two minutes to go in the game.

With the Lady Cards clinging to a 33-32 lead, Porchsa Thomas added to the tension by missing two free throws with under 30 seconds to go before Adams put the game just out of reach.

Annalee Moncivaiz and Victoria Wiesman were top scorers for the Lady Cards with nine points each. Ashley Adams ended the night with seven points, five of them free throws.

Amanda Skaggs scored the most for the Lady Warriors with eight points.