Pirates Overmatch Compton

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:  It was not the best of efforts for the newly minted No. 1-ranked team in the state, but the Pirates simply overmatch El Camino-Compton College 77-40 Friday night at the Athletic Event Center on the first day of the We Play Hard Crossover. Cynthia Hernandez continued with the hot hand, scoring a career-high 28 points on just 10 shot attempts, nailing 7-7 from beyond the 3-point arc in the game. Micaela Pericone-Kapp netted 10 points off the bench while Lisa Marie Sanchez handed out eight assists and Adrianne Sloboh pulled in eight rebounds for Ventura (12-2).

The outcome was never in question, as Hernandez splashed a pair of 3's in the first 81 seconds to give Ventura a quick 6-2 advantage. Compton pulled to within 15-10 with a trey at the 10:42 mark, but an 8-0 run with a pair of triples by Adrianna Vega sandwiched around a deuce by Hernandez lifted the Pirates back to a double-digit lead. Hernandez hit her fifth and sixth 3-pointers of the period in the final 71 seconds to lift Ventura to a 40-18 halftime margin.

Sanchez started the second half with a corner trey, and by the time Hernandez hit three free throws with 15:58 remaining in the game, the Pirates held a 53-20 advantage. VC used its bench liberally in the second half, with 11 of the 12 Pirates reaching the scoring column. Pericone-Kapp netted nine of her 10 points in the second half and Makayla Morrison hit a pair of lay-ups in the period as well. Sandra Ortiz and Joi Moten each pulled in four rebounds in the 77-40 win.

The Pirates now focus on No. 7 Pasadena City College, who visits the Athletic Event Center to close the We Play Hard Crossover on Saturday Dec. 21. Game time is set for 7:00 pm, following a contest between Citrus and Compton at 5:00 pm. Pasadena defeated Ventura 75-70 on Nov. 23 at the Glendale Tournament.