Aubri Smith scored a team-high 25 points, connecting on four 3-pointers, with seven rebounds and three assist to lead the Ventura College women's basketball team to a 68-61 victory over Pasadena in the semifinals of the Vaquero Shootout at Glendale College Friday night. Brooke Zamora tallied 15 points with six boards and three assists in the win.
Aubri Smith was on fire in the opening period, converting three 3-pointers, and netting 11 points in the period. Carolyn Ruffino also hit a triple for VC (2-0) as they marched to an 18-14 lead after one quarter of play.
Ventura used a 12-3 run to open the second period, posting a 30-17 advantage at the 5:27 mark. Aubri Smith hit for six more, including another trey, and Alex Kalmbach had a pair of assists to Zamora and Erin Ross during the run. Zamora hit another deuce and Marissa Hurtado hit a mid-range jumper from the right baseline as the Pirates held on to a 36-25 lead at intermission. Pasadena stayed in the game with seven 3-pointers i the first 20 minutes of play.
The teams played even throughout the third period, as VC was unable to gain any separation from the Lancers. Amani White went for eight points in the period, and Kyleesha Green hit a 3-pointer from the left wing, but Pasadena held strong with VC leading 53-43 at the end of the quarter.
PCC began to mount a comeback in the final period, closing to within 63-59 in the final minute before Green hit Zamora at the top of the key for a 3-pointer to put the game on ice. VC held on for the hard-fought 68-61 win.
White was the third Pirate in double figures with 11 points to go along with seven rebounds. Green ended with four dimes to lead VC and Kalmbach had three assists and three blocked shots.
The win propels VC into the finals of the Vaquero Shootout for the first time since the 2012-13 season. VC has won the tournament 10 times previously, most recently in 2012. They will face Cerritos College at 4:00 pm on Saturday Nov. 21 in the final.