Women's Basketball Runs Away from Citrus

The Pirates got off to a fast start and never looked back Thursday, defeating Citrus College 59-30 in the first round of the Wild West Shootout at West Los Angeles College in Culver City.  VC (8-5) opened the game with a 20-0 run, and held the Owls to a team-record two points in the first quarter to set the table for the victory. Sienna Brown had her fourth double-double of the year, her third in the past four games, with 14 points and 12 rebounds along with five blocked shots to lead the way for Ventura.

Rhiana Dougan started things off right with a steal, lay-up and made free throw to complete an old fashioned 3-point play in the opening minute of play. Brown hit a lay-up from a Kyleesha Green assist, and Dougan followed with two more lay-ups and the Pirates were ahead 9-0 3:27 into the game. VC got to the rim at will in the first quarter, as Davina Del Castillo scored on a lay-up and an offensive rebound, followed by two Green lay-ups sandwiched around another Brown chip shot.  The Pirates led 22-2 at the end of the first period.

As has been the problem all season, the Pirate offense went stagnant in the second quarter.  Brown hit an inside shot at the 8:34 mark, and VC did not score another field goal for nearly five minutes. When Brown converted a deuce with 3:51 on the clock, the Ventura advantage had shrunk to 26-9. The lead went back to 20 points, 29-9 on Katie Campbell's 3-pointer at the 3:03 mark, but the Owls outscored the Pirates 7-2 down the stretch to cut the VC lead to 31-16 at halftime.

The struggles continued for VC well into the third quarter.  The Pirates did not score for 4:21 of the third period, but Citrus only trimmed the Ventura lead to 31-19 in that time. Ventura recovered nicely, however, going on an 11-0 run over the next five minutes to essentially put the game away. Campbell assisted a Brown jumper followed by a lay-up and 3-pointer from Campbell. Then Brown assisted a Dougan lay-up and made two free throws to complete the run.  Ventura led 42-21 after three.

The run continued for Ventura in the final stanza, and when Paige Larson made a driving shot with 7:09 remaining in the game, the Pirates led 50-21. Green's 3-point shot from a Celeste Salazar helper gave the Pirates their biggest lead, 59-24, at the 3:09 mark.  VC coasted to the 59-30 victory.

Green contributed 13 points with seven rebounds for Ventura and Del Castillo netted 12 points with six boards and four steals. Dougan had 10 points and four thefts while Campbell scored eight points with four assists and five rebounds.

The Pirates advance to the semifinals of the tournament Friday Dec. 16 when they will face San Diego City College for the first time in program history. Tip off at West LA College in Culver City is set for 7:00 pm.