Playing at home for the first time this season, the Pirates' women's basketball team played just well enough to post a 75-60 victory over Laney College in the first round of the VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions Friday evening. Makenna Murray and Brooke Zamora became the third and fourth players to lead VC in scoring in four games this season, each netting 14 points in the win.
Zamora got the Pirates (4-0) off on the right track, converting assists from Aubri Smith and Carolyn Ruffino on a lay-up and a 3-pointer to give VC an early 5-0 edge. Murray and Aubri Smith hit buckets to make the score 9-3 with 6:15 left in the first quarter. Laney was able to close to within 12-9 at the 3:35 mark, but VC closed the period on a 10-3 run. Marissa Hurtado hit a free throw, followed by two transitions baskets by Aubri Smith,the second off a sweet pass by Hurtado. Zamora connected on an old-fashioned 3-point play and Alex Kalmbach netted a deuce to give the Pirates a 22-12 advantage after one period of play.
Ventura scored the first nine points of the second quarter to go ahead 31-12 at the 7:07 mark. Ruffino hit a 3-pointer on the left side from a Kalmbach pass to close the 19-3 run over two quarters. The Eagles proved to be a touch opponent, however, scoring the next six points to keep the game within reach. Two charity tosses by Aubri Smith and a bucket by Sienna Brown ended the drought for VC, and Ruffino's 3-pointer with 2:17 on the clock made it 42-26 for VC. Laney closed the period on a 7-1 run, however, to make the score 43-33 at halftime.
The Pirates played with a turkey hangover as the second half began as Laney closed the score to within seven, 45-38, in the first minute of play. VC held a 47-40 edge when they started a 12-2 run. Ruffino hit a free throw and Brown converted an offensive board for two, followed by a steal by Green that led to Murray's 3-point play. Brown turned another rebound into two points and Green finished at the rim to give VC a 59-42 edge with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter.
A interesting scene unfolded with 2:11 on the clock when a Laney player fouled out. The Eagles were assessed two technical fouls when the coach elected to leave the player on the floor beyond the allowable time, and VC hit four of six free throws when play resumed to take a 65-46 lead. Ventura led 65-48 at the end of the quarter.
Green's lay-up at the 2:56 mark of the fourth quarter gave the Pirates their biggest lead of the night, 73-52, and VC coasted in to the 75-60 win.
Aubri Smith netted 13 points, all in the first half, to go along with four assists while Ruffino had 10 points and six rebounds. Green had her best game in the orange and black with seven points and four assists, as did Brown who totaled six points and six boards.
Other scores from the tournament included Santa Monica over Taft, 80-41, Diablo Valley over Canyons, 70-42, and Mt. San Antonio over Contra Costa, 72-61. Ventura will play Santa Monica in the 7:00 pm semifinal on Saturday Nov. 28 while Mt. SAC and Diablo Valley will battle at 5:00 pm. Taft plays Laney at 1:00 pm and Canyons plays Contra Costa at 3:00 pm, all at the Athletic Event Center.