Behind an outstanding defensive effort, the VC women's basketball team defeated Santa Barbara City College 66-31 Monday night at the Athletic Event Center. The Pirates held the Vaqueros to 22 percent shooting from the floor (12-57) and forced 19 turnovers while not allowing SBCC a double-digit quarter or a double-digit scorer. Mya Victor led the Pirates with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds and Kenya Edelhart netted 16 with five assists in Ventura's ninth straight victory.
Alyssandra Lacanilao hit a three and Edelhart hit a jumper for a 5-0 Pirate lead before the Vaqueros got on the board. Buckets by Victor and Edelhart extended the advantage to 9-2 before SBCC made their only run of the night, closing to within 9-6 with 4:50 remaining in the opening period. Ventura went on a 12-2 run from that point to go ahead 21-9 at the end of the quarter. Victor scored a pair of buckets around two free throws from Edelhart, followed by 3-pointers from Alisha Cruz-Lisberg and Lacanilao before the quarter break.
VC's offensive pace slowed a bit in the second quarter, but their defense maintained its top intensity. Santa Barbara managed just three more field goals in stanza as Ventura opened a 33-15 lead at intermission.
Ventura got the three-ball going in the third quarter with Sofia Torres-Reyes hitting once from range before Lacanilao hit two three's to push the lead to 27 points, 42-15. After a Torres-Reyes free throw, Edelhart netted a pair of buckets to maintain the lead. The Pirates began to head to the foul line for the remainder of the period and they led 56-23 headed to the fourth, building to the 66-31 final.
Torres-Reyes finished with 10 points on the day and Lacanilao hit for nine. Cruz-Lisberg totaled eight points with a pair of dimes in the effort while Maddie Ozbourn totaled seven rebounds and four steals.
VC next hosts Oxnard on Wednesday Feb. 16. tip-off is slated for 7:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.