For 26 minutes of play, it was an uncomfortably close contest for the VC women's basketball team Saturday at Moorpark, but a late rally led to a 63-40 win for the Pirates at raider Pavilion. Moorpark, who lost to Ventura 66-26 in a December non-conference tournament game, was within 33-32 with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter before the Pirates closed the game on a 30-8 run.
Amani White led VC (16-4, 2-0) with 12 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks while Makenna Murray, playing all five positions at one point or another during the game, had 10 points, five boards, four assists, three steals, a blocked shot and a drawn charge in the game. Brooke Zamora had 11 points and five rebounds in the Pirate win.
The game was a close affair throughout he opening period. VC trailed midway through the quarter when Shiloh Smith hit a 3-pointer to give VC a 9-8 lead with 4:35 on the clock. The Pirates, who struggled toa 6-22 performance from the field in the first half, closed the first period with four free throws from Zamora and White to take a 16-14 advantage after 10 minutes of play.
Murray hit a three with 849 left in the second quarter, the Pirates' final field goal of the half, to make the score 19-14. The Raiders didn't set the world on fire offensively, as well, but were able to outscore VC 10-5 from that point on to head to halftime tied at 24-24.
The stalemate continued into the third quarter. White hit a pair of inside buckets, and Zamora nailed a trey to make it 31-26 with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter, but Moorpark was able to stage a mini comeback. The Raiders followed up a bucket by Aubri Smith with two scores to pull to within 33-32 at the 4:05 mark. Aubri Smith then hit a free throw with 3:53 on the clock before the VC team of Kyleesha Green, Felicia Magana, Alex Kalmbach, Zamora and Murray closed the period on a 13-2 run. Magana hit a 3-pointer followed by a Murray charity toss and a Zamora Triple. Murray connected for two and Magana hit two free throws. Fianll, Murray beat the buzzer with a drive and shot to put Ventura ahead 47-35 at the end of three quarters.
VC continued to pull away in the final stanza, with Green setting the stage with a pair of athletic drives to the basket. White hit two free shots and Kalmback nailed two field goals. The Pirate defense held the Raiders without a basket until 3.7 seconds remaining in the game when an inconsequential three made the final score 63-40 for the Ventura win.
Magana came off the bench to score eight points for Ventura while Carolyn Ruffino pulled in four rebounds. kalmbach had five points and a pair of steals.
The Pirates will next travel to Los Angeles Pierce College on Wednesday Jan. 13. Tip off is scheduled for 5:00 pm in Woodland hills, and the game will be followed by the Pirate men at 7:00 pm.