Pirate Women Outlast Hancock in WSC Opener

The Allan Hancock College Bulldogs threw everything they had at the Pirates Saturday night in the Western State Conference opener for both teams.  Hancock hit 11 3-pointers in the game and scored on seven of their first nine possessions in the third quarter, but another Ventura surge in the fourth quarter secured a 73-60 win in Santa Maria. Rhiana Dougan had 23 points, including 13 in the fourth period, to lead the Pirates (16-5, 1-0).  Davina Del Castillo had 16 points with nine rebounds and three steals while Sienna Brown netted 15 points with five boards.

The teams traded blows early with Ventura opening up a little space on Dougan's old-fashioned 3-point play, making it 12-6 midway through the first quarter. The Pirates expanded that lead when Kyleesha Green nailed a 3-ball from the right wing to make it 17-9 at the 1:39 mark.  Hancock, however, scored on the next two possessions, including a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to close to within 17-15 at the quarter break.

The Bulldogs tired the score at 19 three minutes into the second period before Katie Campbell reasserted VC control with a pair of driving scores.  AHC answered with another shot from range, and Green's driving score was answered with another Hancock 3-pointer to knot the score at 25 with 4:33 remaining. The Pirates ended the half with a steal and lay-up from Del Castillo and a pair of buckets by Brown, but the Bulldogs kept pace.  VC led 31-29 at halftime.

Hancock came out red hot in the third quarter, making their first five shots and scoring on seven of their first nine possessions. It started with a banked 3-pointer and continued from there.  But Ventura took the punches, and countered when it was available.  Brown hit a contested jump shot and Dougan nailed a triple during the onslaught and Del Castillo scored in the paint, as well.  When the 18-10 Bulldog run was over, the Pirates trailed 47-40 with 4:36 left to play in the quarter.

Ventura had an answer, scoring on five of the next six possessions to close the quarter on a 9-1 run. Del Castillo scored off an assist by Green and Brown converted a bucket inside. Campbell and Brown each hit charity shots and Dougan ended the quarter with a long-range bomb from the left side to put VC ahead 49-48 at the end of the period.

It was the Dougan show from that point as the sophomore scored 16 of her 23 points in the final 11:14 of the game.  She started the fourth quarter with a pair of lay-ups and hit a triple at the 5:44 mark to make it 58-52 for the Pirates. The Bulldogs hit their final three with 4:47 remaining to make it 60-56, then VC closed the door with a Brown mid-range jumper and two Dougan threes, all assisted by Campbell. VC was 5-6 down the stretch from the charity strip to end any Bulldog hopes, taking the game by a final score of 73-60.

Campbell turned in 12 points in the game and a team-high seven assists while Green had a solid 7-point, 11-rebound, 6-assist night.

Ventura returns home on Wednesday Jan. 18 to host Cuesta College.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm following the Pirate men's game against the Cougars at 5:00 pm.  Both games can be seen live on the VC Sports Network.