Pirates Open With Victory

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:  On the strength of a strong first half performance, the Ventura College women's basketball team opened the 2013-14 season with a solid 77-66 victory over Antelope Valley in the first round of the Vaquero Shootout at Glendale College Friday afternoon. Cynthia Hernandez led VC with 19 points and four assists while Lisa Marie Sanchez netted 17 points while handing out seven dimes. Brooke Dixon had the In-n-Out special double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Pirates (1-0).

After the Marauders opened the game with a basket the Pirates answered quickly as Hernandez and Sanchez scored nine of the next 12 points in the game, putting VC ahead 9-5.  Adrianna Vega hit a 3-pointer at the 17:50 mark and the Pirates led 12-5. A pair of buckets by Dixon followed by another Vega triple stretched the advantage to 19-10. Back-to-back-to-back 3's by Vega, Sanchez, and Hernandez, plus a free throw by Hernandez to complete a 4-point play, gave Ventura a 39-19 lead with 6:51 on the clock. VC held a 49-29 advantage at halftime.

In the first 20 minutes of the season, VC came out strong shooting 52 percent from the floor (17-33) and 50 percent from 3-point land (6-12). VC also had 10 assists in the half compared to seven turnovers.

Ventura could not sustain the energy in the second half, but they did maintain their advantage. The lead stretched to 25 points following consecutive buckets by Dixon as VC led 58-33 with 16:38 remaining in the contest. AVC kept up the battle, however, going on a 9-1 run over the next four minutes to climb back into the contest. But the Pirates were able to maintain their composure, and rebuild a 23-point margin on Makayla Morrison's field goal with 6:45 on the clock, making the score 75-52. The Pirates were able to give some freshmen some valuable minutes down the stretch, despite Antelope Valley's 14-2 run to end the contest. Ventura advanced in the tournament by a score of 77-66.

Vega hit three treys en route to a 9-point performance and played a stellar game on the defensive end of the floor, as well. Adrianne Sloboh had six points and five rebounds for VC.

The Pirates will play long-time rival Pasadena City College in the semifinals on Saturday Nov. 23 at 5:00 pm. Chaffey and Fullerton will play the second semifinal at 7:00 pm at Glendale College.