The VC women's basketball team traveled to Allan Hancock College Wednesday, leaving Santa Maria with a 55-47 setback against the Bulldogs. Sam McKenzie was the lone Pirate in double-figures with 18 points while Alexa Coubal netted eight points with 14 rebounds. Danielle Salazar scored nine points with eight boards in the contest.
Coubal scored from a McKenzie assist early for a 2-2 count before the Bulldogs netted the next five points. The Pirates stayed strong, however, and tied the game in the game at 11 in the final minute of the first quarter when Salazar hit a 3-pointer. The Bulldogs made a 3-point play on the next trip down the floor to lead 14-11 after one period.
The Pirates' deficit expanded to 22-11 before Salazar's old-fashioned 3-point play ended the skid with 6:44 left in the second stanza. McKenzie scored a pair of field goals down the stretch, but VC could not keep up with the Bulldogs, and trailed 32-18 at intermission.
Midway through the third period McKenzie made a lay-up and Salazar drained a three to pull Ventura to within 38-27.Aiyana Gonzalez answered a Hancock two and McKenzie scored again to bring the margin to single-digits before Charnelle Nichols hit a pair of buckets to make it 40-35 at the end of the third.
The Bulldogs quickly ended the Pirate run to begin the final quarter, but VC held fast, and McKenzie's lay-up from a Milan Garcia assist maintained the five-point deficit, 46-41, with 5:36 remaining. Coubal answered a Hancock score and Nichols hit for two inside to make it a 48-45 game with 3:40 on the clock. The Bulldogs turned the tide, however, with a 7-0 run and the Pirates would not get as close for the remainder of the game.
The Pirates (9-14, 4-7) will close the seasonon Friday Feb. 21 hosting Oxnard College at 5:00 pm.