The VC women's basketball team fought back from a 12-point first half deficit to hold a halftime lead, only to fade in the fourth quarter in their 62-51 setback against Sequoias on the first day of the Tom Gilcrest Invitational Thursday in Visalia. Alexa Coubal produced another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Tiernan Phillips totaled 14 points with five boards. Sam McKenzie added nine points and Daphné LeBrun handed out seven assists.
Ventura (6-1) found the sailing difficult in the early going, falling behind 13-4 six minutes into the game. LeBrun's old-fashioned 3-point play seemed to jump start VC and Coubal followed on the next trip down the floor with another bucket. The Giants added a score before the end of the quarter as VC trailed 14-9 after 10 minutes of play.
Sequoias continued to stretch their lead in the second period, holding a 23-11 edge with 7:22 remaining in the half. Coubal made one of two free throws and Elena Ferrara converted a 3-point play to begin a 15-0 Ventura run. Coubal made three more free throws and Phillips scored a deuce to pull VC to within 23-20 with 3:01 on the clock. Phillips added another bucket and Coubal made two more charity shots to push Ventura ahead 24-23. McKenzie's jumper stretched the margin to three points before COS closed the stanza with a bucket.
The teams battled throughout the third quarter with four ties and six lead changes over the 10-minute period. The game remained within two points before LeBrun followed a Dani Henley jumper with her own field goal for a 38-25 Pirate lead. Coubal's 3-point play stretched the margin to six with 2:13 on the clock before the Giants closed the stanza on a 7-0 run.
Phillips put Ventura back ahead early in the fourth, 43-42, and Henley tied the game at 46 at the 5:41 mark. Sequoias hit a three, and Phillips answered with a deuce before COS closed the game on a 13-3 run to give the Pirates their first loss of the season.
VC moves to the tournament's consolation semifinals on Friday Dec. 1. The Pirates will take on Western State Conference rival Moorpark at 3:00 pm in Visalia.