Pirate Women Jump Hancock Early in Big Victory

There was no playing around on Saturday night for the Pirates.  Aubri Smith assisted two Brooke Zamora 3-pointers on the first two possessions helping VC jump out to an early 12-0 advantage, leading to a 77-32 victory over Allan Hancock College at the Athletic Event Center.  Zamora finished the night with 20 points and Smith handed out nine assists in the game for Ventura (18-4, 4-0).  Following the contest, the Pirates honored their Favorite Teachers for 2016.

Aubri Smith assisted a triple by Carolyn Ruffino in the opening run, and Amani White cashed in a bucket and a free throw to close the run.  The Bulldogs did not score their first point until the 2:49 mark of the first quarter.  White hit another shot, and Kyleesha Green assisted Zamora's third trey of the period, leading to a 17-6 advantage for VC at the end of one quarter.

The Pirates went on a 16-0 run to start the second quarter to put the game away.  Green assisted another Ruffino three, then scored three straight buckets to make it 26-6.  Aubri Smith assisted another Zamora shot from range, and converted a steal into a break away lay-up, then assisted a bucket by White as the Pirates opened up a 33-6 lead midway through the second quarter.   The teams played even for the final five minutes of the half, but the damage had been inflicted and VC led 40-13 at the break.

Ventura outscored the Bulldogs 10-2 to start the third quarter, led off by a triple from Ruffino. assisted by White.  Zamora hit a bucket and Makenna Murray cashed in from behind the arc, assisted again by Aubri Smith.  Murray then paid it forward, assisting a field goal by Zamora and VC led 50-17 at he 4:07 mark.  Rhiana Dougan got into the act with a pair of triples, and Alex Kalmbach hit a jumper from the right side on the break to put Ventura ahead 60-21 after three quarters.

VC kept the hammer down in the fourth quarter, with Ruffino connecting from range again, and Green taking it strong to the hoop.  Sienna Brown converted a pair of offensive rebounds into points.  The Pirates ran away with th 77-32 win.

Zamora led the way with 20 points, shooting 4-6 from three.  She also pulled in six rebounds with two steals.  Ruffino connected four times from range for 12 points and White totaled 11 points with five boards.  Aubri Smith handed out nine assists in the game with five rebounds and a steal. Green had nine points, five assists and five rebounds and Murray led the team with seven boards with two steals. Kalmbach and Brown also each recorded six boards.

With the win and a Santa Barbara loss at Oxnard, VC moved into sole possession of first place in the Western State Conference north division race.  Both the Vaqueros and Condors have one loss in conference play and are tied for second.  VC will visit SBCC in its next outing, Saturday Jan. 23 at 5:00 pm, before hosting Oxnard on Wednesday Jan. 27, also at 5:00 pm.