Call it opening day jitters. The Pirates' women's basketball team hit just 18 percent of their field goal attempts in the first half, but rallied in the second for a 58-36 win over Antelope Valley Thursday in the first round of the Vaquero Shootout at Glendale College. Aubri Smith's double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds led the way for VC.
It was slow-going for both teams early on, with baskets hard to come by. Makenna Murray hit VC's first bucket of the season to tie the score, and Alex Kalmbach hit a 3-pointer to put the Pirates ahead 5-2 midway through the first quarter. Antelope Valley came back with an 8-0 run before Kalmbach hit a running trey just before the buzzer to pull VC back to within 10-8 at the end of the period.
Despite the slow offensive pace, VC was able to build a 17-15 advantage when Murray found Brooke Zamora for a baseline jumper with 5:15 o the clock. Ventura led 18-15 after an Aubri Smith free throw a minute later, but Antelope Valley scored the final six points of the half and led 21-18 at intermission.
Ventura was finding open shots in the first two quarters of play, but was unable to find the bottom of the net, connecting on seven of 40 field goal attempts. VC held a 28-21 advantage on the boards in the first half and limited themselves to six turnovers, however, to help them remain close at halftime.
Zamora and Aubri Smith each connected with two charity tosses to begin the second half, and Smith followed with a 3-pointer. Deuces from Zamora and Aubri Smith once again completed a 11-1 run over four-plus minutes to begin the third quarter. After a triple and two free throws by AVC, Aubri answered with her own long-range bomb and the Pirates led 32-27 with 4:26 left in the period. Erin Ross closed the quarter with a mid-range jumper as Ventura led 42-33 after three quarters of play.
The Pirates dominated the fourth period, pulling away on the scoreboard. Carolyn Ruffino hit a pull-up jumper and Amani White connected on two free shots as VC led 47-24 at the 7:35 mark. The Marauders went scoreless over the next five minutes of play and Ventura had four players connect with buckets as the Pirates opened up a 55-34 lead with 2:57 remaining. Shiloh Smith nailed a 3-pointer from a Lexy Hinojosa assist to set the final at 58-36 for VC.
The Pirates improved considerably in the final 20 minutes of play, shooting 14-35 from the floor, a 40 percent rate. VC also dominated the boards, posting a 57-32 rebounds advantage for the game.
Kalmbach joined Aubri Smith in double-figures with 10 points to go along with nine rebounds. Murray finished with six points and eight boards and Zamora reversed those figures with eight points and six rebounds. Aubri Smith and Murray each handed out three assists as the Pirates dished out 13 dimes as a team against 11 turnovers.
Ventura advances to the semifinals of the Vaquero Shootout on Friday Nov. 20. They will take on Pasadena City College at 5:00 pm. The tournament concludes on Saturday Nov. 20.