The Allan Hancock College Bulldogs threw everything they had at the Pirates Saturday night in the Western State Conference opener for both teams. Hancock hit 11 3-pointers in the game and scored on seven of their first nine possessions in the third quarter, but another Ventura surge in the fourth quarter secured a 73-60 win in Santa Maria. Rhiana Dougan had 23 points, including 13 in the fourth period, to lead the Pirates (16-5, 1-0). Davina Del Castillo had 16 points with nine rebounds and three steals while Sienna Brown netted 15 points with five boards.
The teams traded blows early with Ventura opening up a little space on Dougan's old-fashioned 3-point play, making it 12-6 midway through the first quarter. The Pirates expanded that lead when Kyleesha Green nailed a 3-ball from the right wing to make it 17-9 at the 1:39 mark. Hancock, however, scored on the next two possessions, including a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to close to within 17-15 at the quarter break.
The Bulldogs tired the score at 19 three minutes into the second period before Katie Campbell reasserted VC control with a pair of driving scores. AHC answered with another shot from range, and Green's driving score was answered with another Hancock 3-pointer to knot the score at 25 with 4:33 remaining. The Pirates ended the half with a steal and lay-up from Del Castillo and a pair of buckets by Brown, but the Bulldogs kept pace. VC led 31-29 at halftime.
Hancock came out red hot in the third quarter, making their first five shots and scoring on seven of their first nine possessions. It started with a banked 3-pointer and continued from there. But Ventura took the punches, and countered when it was available. Brown hit a contested jump shot and Dougan nailed a triple during the onslaught and Del Castillo scored in the paint, as well. When the 18-10 Bulldog run was over, the Pirates trailed 47-40 with 4:36 left to play in the quarter.
Ventura had an answer, scoring on five of the next six possessions to close the quarter on a 9-1 run. Del Castillo scored off an assist by Green and Brown converted a bucket inside. Campbell and Brown each hit charity shots and Dougan ended the quarter with a long-range bomb from the left side to put VC ahead 49-48 at the end of the period.
It was the Dougan show from that point as the sophomore scored 16 of her 23 points in the final 11:14 of the game. She started the fourth quarter with a pair of lay-ups and hit a triple at the 5:44 mark to make it 58-52 for the Pirates. The Bulldogs hit their final three with 4:47 remaining to make it 60-56, then VC closed the door with a Brown mid-range jumper and two Dougan threes, all assisted by Campbell. VC was 5-6 down the stretch from the charity strip to end any Bulldog hopes, taking the game by a final score of 73-60.
Campbell turned in 12 points in the game and a team-high seven assists while Green had a solid 7-point, 11-rebound, 6-assist night.
Ventura returns home on Wednesday Jan. 18 to host Cuesta College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm following the Pirate men's game against the Cougars at 5:00 pm. Both games can be seen live on the VC Sports Network.