Although it was not pretty, it was effective as the Ventura College women's basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the 17th Annual VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions with a 66-39 victory over Taft College Friday night at the Athletic Event Center. Micaela Pericone-Kapp had 15 points and seven rebounds while Aubri Smith netted 13 points with eight boards, four assists and a pair of steals for the Pirates (3-1).
The turkey coma lasted longer that anticipated for the Pirates, as they found themselves down 11-9 to the Cougars with 11:48 left in the first half. a free throw from Pericone-Kapp and an old-fashioned 3-point play from Aubri Smith put VC ahead for good, 13-11 a minute later.
Consecutive triples from Pericone-Kapp, from assists by Aubri Smith and Makenna Murray, respectively, added to the Ventura lead, that grew to 22-13 on a free throw by Carly Maciel at the 6:51 mark. The lead hit double-figures, 28-18, on free throws by Brooke Zamora, and VC led 33-20 at halftime.
Two more treys by Pericone-Kapp sandwiched around a bucket from Murray gave the Pirates an 8-0 run to start the second half, making the score 41-20 with 17:15 left in the game. Taft answered with a 7-0 run, ended by an Aubri Smith assist to Sandra Ortiz. Maciel hit a pair of charity tosses to put he Pirates up by 22, 49-27, halfway through the period. VC cruised in for the 66-39 victory.
Zamora led the Pirate glass attack with 11 rebounds to go along with nine points. Murray chipped in nine points with four assists, and Carolyn Ruffino grabbed seven boards and handed out a pair of dimes.
Other scores from Friday's action at the Kiwanis Tournament included Canyons over Laney, 71-56; Mt. San Antonio over Diablo Valley, 65-46, and Santa Monica over Contra Costa, 57-44.
Ventura will battle Santa Monica at 7:00 pm on Saturday Nov. 29 in one semifinal. Canyons and Mt. SAC will play at 5:00 pm in the other semifinal. Consolation games include Laney and Diablo Valley at 1:00 pm and Taft and Contra Costa at 3:00 pm.