The VC women's basketball team was outscored 29-11 in the third quarter before winning the final stanza 27-13 to bring home a 74-72 victory over Rio Hondo in the consolation finals of the Buddy's All-Star Classic at Los Angeles Valley College. Sam McKenzie had a season-high 23 points with 10 rebounds and seven steals while Alexa Coubal posted 19 points with 16 rebounds. Daphné LeBrun scored nine of her 11 points in the final stanza and grabbed eight boards.
After the Roadrunners scored on the first possession of the game, Ventura (8-4) answered with a 15-2 run over the next six minutes of play. Leslie Salazar hit a one of two free throws and Coubal nailed a lay-up before Aliah Jackson cashed in LeBrun's helper for a 5-2 lead. McKenzie answered a Rio Hondo bucket and LeBrun scored on a drive. McKenzie grabbed a steal and made a lay-up before assisting Coubal's jumper midway through the first quarter. Alexis Howery's pass to Salazar resulted in two more points and VC led 15-4 with 4:05 on the clock. Salazar hit a three from deep on the right wing and Dani Henley scored inside as the Pirates held a 21-13 advantage after the first period.
McKenzie had another steal and lay-up four minutes into the second quarter, and Amari Hurt hit for two on the next possession fr a 27-20 lead. The Roadrunners began a comeback, and pulled to within one possession on a number of occasions, but Howery's triple and a pair of free throws by Coubal extended the margin to 36-30 at halftime.
LeBrun assisted buckets by Coubal and McKenzie to begin the second half as the Pirates extended their lead back to double-figures, 40-30, less than a minute into play. After a two and a three by Rio Hondo, McKenzie scored an old-fashioned 3-point play to keep VC ahead by eight. 43-35 with 7:40 left in the third quarter. At that point the wheels cam off for the Pirates as they missed their next five shots and two free throws with seven turnovers and Rio Hondo went on a 15-0 run over the next five minutes. Jackson hit a pair of charity shots to slow the skid, but the Roadrunners continued with another two and three for a 55-45 lead with 1:58 on the clock. Ventura trailed 59-47 at the end of the period.
Coubal made two more free shots and LeBrun hit the first of three fourth-quarter 3-pointers to begin the Pirate comeback. Rio Hondo kept up their pace, however, and still led 66-57 with 5:12 left to play. The defensive team of LeBrun, McKenzie, Elena Ferrara, Howery and Mykah Johnson continued to generate turnovers, and three straight lay-ups by McKenzie put VC back ahead 67-66 at the 2:48 mark. After a Roadrunner bucket, Coubal made one of two free throws to tie the game at 68, and McKenzie nailed two charity shots on the next trip down the floor. Ferrara made two more free throws with 1:00 remaining to extend the lead to 72-68 and Coubal's rebound and putback gave Ventura a 74-69 lead. Rio Hondo managed a free throw and a steal and lay-up in the closing seconds, but the Pirates held on for the victory.
Coubal, who was named to the All-Tournament team, made 11 of 12 free throw attempts in the game in posting her seventh double-double in 12 games. LeBrun had four assists and no turnovers in the contest while grabbing four steals. Salazar added seven points, eight rebounds and a pair of thefts while Johnson and Howery each dropped two dimes.
Ventura will return home on Saturday Dec. 16 hosting a rematch with Long Beach City College. Tip-off against the Vikings is slated for 5:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.