Taking control with an early 16-3 lead, the Ventura College women's basketball team rebounded from Friday's defeat with a resounding 80-38 win over College of the Desert Saturday in the consolation semifinals of the Vaquero Shootout at Glendale College. Freshmen Makenna Murray and Brooke Zamora each netted 15 points to lead the effort for VC (1-1).
Zamora gave the Pirates a quick 2-0 lead, and after a Roadrunner 3-pointer, the Pirates reeled off 16 straight points to take an 18-3 advantage with 14:38 remaining in the first half. Five different Pirates scored in the run.
Ventura's offense went cold, however, for the next five-plus minutes, allowing the Roadrunners to score nine straight points on three 3-pointers, closing to within 20-15 at the 10:45 mark. Aubri Smith ended the VC drought with a 3-pointer, and triples from Micaela Pericone-Kapp and Murray closed the half, giving Ventura a 40-21 halftime edge.
Midway through the second half, VC went on an 18-0 run to put the game away. The scoring in the run was spread around once again with six players hitting baskets. It was punctuated by a trey by freshman Felicia Magana and a deuce by Pericone-Kapp, giving Ventura a 69-27 lead with 9:59 left in the game. The Pirates cruised to the 80-38 victory.
Zamora added eight rebounds to her scoring effort while Murray handed out five assists. Aubri Smith had 12 points and six assists on the afternoon while Erin Ross was the fourth Pirate in double-figures with 12 points on 6-7 shooting inside. Pericone-Kapp had seven points and nine rebounds. Carolyn Ruffino handed out four assists and Christina Gonzalez pulled in five boards. Magana chipped in seven points.
The Pirates advance to the consolation finals on Sunday Nov. 23 at 12:00 pm against the host Glendale College Vaqueros.