The Pirates' women's basketball team had all five starters score in double-figures Wednesday as they rallied from a first half deficit to defeat Santa Barbara 66-55. Sam McKenzie had 14 points to lead the way while Daphné LeBrun added 12. Alexis Howery and Alexa Coubal each scored 11 points and Tiernan Phillips tallied 10 points in the victory for Ventura (13-7, 4-1). Howery also added six steals, four rebounds and drew two charges while McKenzie, Phillips and Leslie Salazar each pulled in five rebounds. LeBrun added four assists and recorded three thefts.
The Vaqueros came out red hot connecting on three 3-pointers in the first two minutes of play. They led 11-3 with 6:36 remaining in the first quarter before the Pirates began a slow and steady come back. Phillips hit a pair of free throws to start a mini 5-0 run and McKenzie followed with a charity shot and Coubal scored inside. Mykah Johnson scored on a drive late in the period and the Pirates trailed SBCC 18-11 after the first 10 minutes of play.
VC got things going early in the second stanza with a bucket by Salazar and an old-fashioned 3-point play by McKenzie. SBCC continued their strong play as well, opening up a 28-18 lead with 6:01 left in the first half. McKenzie connected on her second "and-1" on the next trip down the floor before Phillips and Howery each made a pair of foul shots. Phillips followed with an inside score to complete a 9-0 Pirate run at the 4:20 mark to pull VC to within 28-27. The Vaqueros answered with the next six points setting up a 12-3 Pirate run to close the period. Olivia Huynh scored on a fast break lay-up and Coubal netted two on a reverse lay-in. Howery scored a deuce on a breakaway and McKenzie netted a bucket. Phillips made two more free throws in the final minute to give VC a 37-34 lead and LeBrun answered a Santa Barbara three with a score just before the buzzer. Ventura led at the break, 39-37.
Howery had a steal and lay-up and Coubal scored a deuce to open up the second half. SBCC scored their only field goal of the third quarter on the next trip down the floor. Coubal scored again inside and made one of two free throws before Salazar scored a runner in the paint. LeBrun's 3-pointer at the 1:52 mark of the period put Ventura ahead 53-42, and the Pirates led 56-46 at the quarter break.
Both teams found the offense hard to come by in the final stanza as VC kept the Vaqueros at bay in the 66-55 victory.
Ventura has an weekend off with a bye, but will make up its postponed game with Long Beach on Monday Jan. 29. The Pirates and Vikings will tip off at 6:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center. VC then resumes Western State COnference play on Wednesday Jan. 31 at Allan Hancock College.