Katie Campbell took the opening tip and hit Rhiana Dougan on the run for a lay-up to start the game and the Pirates did not slow up (much) from there, racing past visiting Cuesta College 79-34 Wednesday night at the Athletic Event Center. Campbell finished with 26 points and seven assists while Dougan totaled 17 points in the victory. Kyleesha Green handed out a career-high 12 assists with four steals in the game for Ventura (17-5, 2-0).
Davina Del Castillo scored on a lay-up on the next possession, but the Cougars had answers early and the game was tied at 4-4. Campbell sandwiched a two and a three around a Sienna Brown jumper, and Green converted a bucket to push the Pirates to a 13-4 advantage with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter. Campbell hit back-to-back triples, then Dougan scored five straight points and VC led 24-8 at the 2:42 mark. Christina Gonzalez scored a field goal late in the period as VC led 26-10 at the quarter break.
VC slowly pulled away in the second period, with Brown adding 10 points in the quarter. Campbell also added a deuce, a three, and an old-fashioned 3-point play as the Pirates led at halftime 44-17.
The Pirates came out flat in the third quarter, totaling just six points. They hit just a single free throw over a seven minute span in the period as the Cougars went on a slow speed 13-1 run to pull within 52-32 at the end of three quarters. But Ventura quickly righted the ship, outscoring the Cougars 27-2 in the final period. The Pirates ran away with the win 79-34.
Sienna Brown had another solid outing, putting up her seventh double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Del Castillo had 10 points, nine boards and four steals for the victors.
Ventura will next host Moorpark College on Saturday Jan. 21. Tip=off is scheduled for 7:00 pm. At halftime of the 5:00 pm men's game, the Pirates will honor their "Favorite Teachers" for 2017. The games can be seen live on the VC Sports Network.