HOBBS— Fresh off two straight wins in the Portales Shootout, coach Clay Stout says turnovers were a big reason his Lady Rams (8-6) lost in Hobbs 36-32 Tuesday night.

“They always play really well in Hobbs,” Stout said. “We had too many turnovers, and that’s always a big thing in a close game.”

Leading 11-9 at the quarter, the Lady Eagles expanded the margin to 24-16 at halftime.

After both teams scored five points in the third quarter, Portales put together a fourth-quarter rally which fell short.

“I thought we played really well in the second half,” Stout said. “But in the first half we were really inconsistent.”

Junior Jenna Wagner led the Lady Rams with 10 points. Gabby Garcia followed with six points, and Tara Johnson and Macy Mitchell both added five points.

The two teams played in early December in Portales, and Hobbs won another close game 38-37.

“We just have to put four quarters together,” Stout said.

The Lady Rams host Roswell High Thursday night, before traveling to Clovis next Tuesday.