It was a record setting day for the Pirates' women's basketball team Sunday in their 70-8 victory over College of the Desert on the final day of the Wild West Shootout at West Los Angeles College. The defensive effort set a record for scoring futility by a VC opponent and the victory was head coach Ned Mircetic's 900th career win at Ventura College. Sam McKenzie and Alexa Coubal led the effort with 13 and 12 points, respectively, and Alexis Howery netted 11 in the 62-point triumph.
The outcome of the game wa decided almost before it began as Daphné LeBrun assisted a bucket by Coubal 10 seconds into play. LeBrun dropped dimes on the next two scores for the Pirates, both lay-ups by McKenzie, and Tiernan Phillips' putback made it 8-0 early. Elena Ferrara had a setal and assist to McKenzie on the next possession as VC pitched a shutout in the first quarter, leading 14-0 after 10 minutes of play.
Leslie Salazar assisted a back-door lay-up by Howery early in the second quarter and Ventura led 16-0 before the Roadrunners got on the board with a banked 3-pointer. Mykah Johnson got into the act with a field goal before Coubal, Phillips and McKenzie score the Pirates' final nine points of the half. VC led at intermission, 28-4.
the rout continued in the third period with a McKenzie 3-point play stretching the lead to 35-4 two minutes after halftime. Ferrera made a lay-up, a three and a jumper on back-to-back-to-back possessions midway through the stanza and Olivia Huynh's fast break score from Ferrara extended the lead to 48-4 with 4:10 on the clock. VC led 50-6 entering the final 10 minutes of play.
Salazar, Howery and Dani Henley all hit from range early in the fourth and Aliah Jackson's first points as a Pirate set hte final margin at 70-8.
Phillips ended the game wit nine points and eight boards while Ferrara and Salazar each dished out four assists. McKenzie and Ferrara each grabbed three steals for Ventura.
The eight points by Desert lowered the VC defensive record for points allowed by five points, besting the mark when VC held LA Pierce to 13 points in 2000. Oxnard twice scored 16 against VC in 2009 and 1997. The Roadrunners scoreless first quarter was the fifth shutout by the Pirates over a 10 minute period dating back to the 2015-16 season when quarters were instituted. The four points allowed in each half also tied a defensive record with Cuesta (2018) and Oxnard (2006 and 1996).
Additionally, the victory was the 900th in the career of head coach Ned Mircetic, who now has a career record of 900-164 over 33-plus years.
Ventura returns home in the coming week, hosting the 25th VC-Kiwanis Club Classic on Thursday-Saturday, nov. 16-18. The Pirates' home opener is Thursday Nov. 16 at 7:00 pm against Napa Valley College.
