The VC women's basketball team got off to a fast start but could not sustain the momentum, dropping a 64-44 decision to visiting Moorpark Wednesday at the Athletic Event Center. Sofia Torres-Reyes scored 13 points to lead Ventura (13-5, 2-1) while Kenya Edelhart and Jocelyn Contreras netted 10 and nine points, respectively. Kylie Gallick pulled in 12 rebounds to lead VC.
Edelhart hit a three to open the scoring for Ventura and Contreras answered a Raider two with another make from range. Contreras then scored a deuce and Torres-Reyes made a bucket for a 10-3 lead on Moorpark barely four minutes into the game. Everything went south for the Pirates offensively at that point, as the Raiders went on a 26-4 run over the next 11 minutes of game time to take control. Contreras ended the skid with a short jumper and Gallick followed with a pair of free throws. Edelhart hit Torres-Reyes in the right corner for a three to cut the deficit to 29-21 for Ventura. Moorpark scored a pair of field goals down the stretch in the first half before Edelhart's two made it 33-23 at halftime.
VC scored five of the first seven points to start the second half in attempt to climb back into the contest. Gallick scored a turn-around inside and Torres-Reyes cashed in an Alisha Cruz-Lisberg dime off the window for two. Cruz-Lisberg then hit one of two free throws and Ventura trailed 35-28 with 7:44 remaining. Torres-Reyes made a pair of charity shots with 5:41 on the clock to maintain the deficit before the Pirate offense went cold once again. Moorpark outscored VC 8-2 for the remainder of the period, and VC trailed 45-33 headed to the final quarter.
Ventura managed to tread water through most of the final stanza. Edelhart's three at the 4:01 mark maintained the 12-point margin, but Ventura could not find the juice to eat into the Raiders' advantage. Contreras scored two to make it 55-42 with 3:10 remaining, before MC ended the contest on a 9-2 run.
Ventura returns to the hardwoods on Saturday Jan. 14 at Los Angeles Pierce. Tip-off in Woodland Hills is scheduled for 5:00 pm.