The Pirate odyssey continued on Saturday in the semifinals of the LA Valley-Russell Classic, with VC dropping a 57-50 decision to Fullerton College. For the fourth time in the past five outings, VC (7-5) was stone cold at the outset, and for the second night in a row, the team turned in a below average shooting performance for 20 minutes of the game. The result was another underachieving performance for a team looking for itself in Ventura's tough non-conference docket.
Fullerton took it to the Pirates early, scoring the first nine points of the game. Makenna Murray ended the Hornet run with a bucket with 17:49 remaining in the first half. FC continued on a 9-4 run over the next three-plus minutes to take an 18-5 lead at the 13:14 mark.
A field goal by Carolyn Ruffino and a pair of offensive rebounds and putbacks by Erin Ross began to get VC going midway through the half, but Fullerton matched with solid shooting from the perimeter and mid-range.
The Hornet lead stretched to 30-15 before Micaela Pericone-Kapp helped stop the bleeding with a 3-pointer with 6:28 on the clock. Ventura closed the half with back-to-back 3-pointers by Brooke Zamora and Carly Maciel and went into intermission down 39-30.
Both teams struggled mightily in the second half on the offensive end, with the teams producing a combined 38 points. Despite their offensive woes, shooting 16 percent from the floor (6-37) in the period, VC managed to stay in the game, almost making a complete comeback.
Pericone-Kapp got things off to a good start with another 3-pointer, and Aubri Smith's 3-point play at the 13:14 mark coupled with a bucket on the next possession made the score 46-40. The Pirates then went over six minutes without a made basket, despite numerous easy opportunities close to the basket.
Ventura did manage some free throws, and Zamore hit a charity toss at the 12:00 mark to pull within five points, 46-41. Murray's two free shots maintained that five-point deficit with 7:14 on the clock, and Aubri Smith made it a single-possession game, 53-50, with a bucket with 4:15 remaining.
Ventura was unable to capitalize, however, not scoring a single point down the stretch while the Hornets ended a five-minute scoring drought with a field goal at the 1:37 mark. They also hit a couple of free throws down the stretch to seal the 57-50 result.
Pericone-Kapp and Aubri Smith each netted 11 points for VC, with Aubri also handing out three assists. Murray had nine points and a pair of dimes while Ruffino had a solid defensive effort with 12 rebounds from her guard spot. Madison O'Donnell and Zamora each pulled in six boards for the Pirates.
Ventrua will play for third place on Sunday Dec. 14 against the host LA Valley College Monarchs. LAVC is coached by VC alumna Monica Hang '10. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm.