VC Holds off Pasadena in Optimist Finale

The VC women's basketball team closed out the Optimist Crossover by holding off Pasadena for a 54-52 victory Saturday afternoon. Kayla Lumas led the way with 17 points while Riannah Lopez netted nine. Sienna Angell and Olivia Decierdo each contributed eight points to the Pirate victory.

VC's Kayla Lumas scored 17 points with six rebounds to lead the Pirates past Pasadena 54-52 Saturday at the Athletic Event Center. (photo by Ava Warren)
VC's Kayla Lumas scored 17 points with six rebounds to lead the Pirates past Pasadena 54-52 Saturday at the Athletic Event Center. (photo by Ava Warren)
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December 27, 2025

The VC women's basketball team closed out the Optimist Crossover by holding off Pasadena for a 54-52 victory Saturday afternoon. Kayla Lumas led the way with 17 points while Riannah Lopez netted nine. Sienna Angell and Olivia Decierdo each contributed eight points to the Pirate victory.

Decierdo and Lumas scored back-to-back buckets midway through the first quarter to give Ventura an 11-7 lead. The Lancers responded, however, with a 10-2 run to hold a 17-13 margin and they led 19-15 at the end of the period.

Angell hit a three, Decierdo connected on a lay-up and Lopez scored a bucket for a 7-0 Pirate run to open the second stanza, giving the Pirates a 22-19 edge before PCC made consecutive three's in response. Lopez hit from range on the next possession to tie the score at 25 before Alyssa Ballesteros made a 3-pointer for a 28-25 Pirate lead with 2:37 remaining in the first half. Lopez and Ava Elliott each connected for two in the final minute of the period for a 32-30 Ventura advantage at intermission.

Ballesteros scored a three and Lumas connected for two to expand the VC lead to five, 37-32, three minutes after halftime and Elliott's lay-up maintained the margin midway through the third quarter. Lumas cashed in a Decierdo dime for an "And-1" with 2:17 on the clock for a 43-37 Pirate edge and Lumas was 3-3 at the free throw line with two seconds left for a 48-41 VC lead headed to the final period.

Pasadena tried to inch their way back into the game throughout the final period, pulling to within 50-48 with 4:31 remaining.  Angell converted a Decierdo assist and completed an old-fashioned 3-point play a minute later to answer, and Decierdo hit a free throw in the final minute to hold off the Lancers, who scored an inconsequential deuce on the final play of the game, 54-52.

Decierdo finished the game with seven big assists while she and Lumas each collected six rebounds. Decierdo and Charnelle Nichols each gathered three steals in the win.

Ventura will close 2025 on Tuesday Dec. 30 at Glendale for a 5:00 pm game.