Cagers Claim Consolation Over Host Vaqueros

Improving a little bit each day, the Pirates' women's basketball team claimed the consolation prize of the Vaquero Shootout with a 78-67 victory over host Glendale College Sunday afternoon.  All-tournament selection Brooke Zamora had a double-double before halftime, and Makenna Murray led VC scorers with 21 points in the game, 14 in the decisive second half.

Ventura (2-1) got out to a quick start, racing to a 12-2 advantage in the first six-plus minutes. Madison O'Donnell's lay-up from an Aubri Smith assist gave the Pirates a 10-point advantage, but the Vaqueros proved to be a feisty bunch.  Glendale scored the next seven points before Zamora hit back-to-back buckets followed by a 3-pointer from Felicia Magana, assisted by Zamora, made the lead 10 points, again, 19-9 with 9:20 on the clock.  

Glendale closed the gap, over the next three minutes of play, and pulled to 23-22 at the 2:43 mark.  Micaela Pericone-Kapp hit a trey and was fouled converting a four-point play, but Glendale answered wit their own triple plus one on the next possession.  Zamora hit a three on the next trip, but the Vaqueros answered with their own long-range bomb to keep pace.  By the time halftime rolled around, VC clung to a slim 36-35 advantage.

Glendale came out of the break on fire, opening with a 10-2 run over two minutes to put the Pirates down 45-38.  O'Donnell ended the run with a jumper off of a pass by Murray, and Smith punctuated a fast break from a Murray steal through Pericone-Kapp on the next possession. Pericone-Kapp then hit a deuce followed by a three to put Ventura ahead 47-45 with 14:11 remaining.  Zamora ended the 11-0 run with a jumper, giving the Pirates a four-point lead.

Ventura slowly pulled away from that point, with Murray converting Zamora's assist, and hitting the and-one free throw to make the score 61-52 at the 7:08 mark.  Pericone-Kapp nailed a pair of charity tosses at the 4:16 mark to give the Pirates their largest lead of the day, 71-56.  VC hit seven of eight free throws down the stretch to secure the 78-67 win.

Zamora had 13 points and 10 rebounds by halftime en route to her 20-point, 13-board performance.  She also handed out three assists and pulled in three steals.  Murray added seven rebounds, three steals and three assists to her 21 points while Pericone-Kapp had 15 points  and four boards in the game.  Aubri Smith totaled 11 points with five caroms and Carolyn Ruffino handed out a team-high four assists.  O'Donnell also pulled in five rebounds for VC.

Ventura will play their first home game under seven championship banners on Friday Nov. 28 as they host the 17th Annual VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions.  Play begins at 2:00 pm and vC hosts Taft College at 6:00 pm.  Other games include Canyons and Laney at 2:00pm, Mt. San Antonio and tournament newcomer Diablo Valley at 4:00pm.  The final game will feature Contra Costa and Santa Monica at 8:00 pm.