The VC women's basketball team hit a season-best 11 3-pointers en route to their 73-44 conference opening win over Oxnard Wednesday at the Athletic Event Center. Alexa Coubal scored 25 points, hitting 13 of 14 free throws, and pulled in 15 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the year. Alexis Howery nailed five triples for 15 points and Dani Henley netted 10 points with nine boards. Daphné LeBrun had eight points while handing out seven assists with four steals in the win for the Pirates (10-6, 1-0).
It was nearly a wire-to-wire win for the Pirates with Coubal pushing the team to an early 4-0 lead with a pair of free throws and a bucket. After an Oxnard three, LeBrun answered with a shot from range before the Condors tie the score at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. Howery put Ventura ahead for good, cashing in LeBrun's dime for three at the 5:00 mark. After two OC free shots. Sam McKenzie hit a mid-range jumper and LeBrun scored another triple. McKenzie followed with an old-fashioned 3-point play for a 18-9 Pirate lead with 2:33 on the clock. Coubal hit a 15-footer and Elena Ferrara scored a three as VC led 23-12 at the end of the first period.
Henley scored a three to open the second stanza, but the Pirate offense stalled soon thereafter as they managed four Coubal free throws for the next four minutes. Leslie Salazar broke the skid with a nice inside move to a lay-up and Howery converted from beyond the arc to extend the advantage to 35-18 midway through the quarter. Henley hit another three closer to halftime, and Coubal sandwiched a pair of makes around two charity shots to push Ventura to a 46-26 halftime margin.
Howery made two more three's early in the third period, and LeBrun had a steal and lay-up for a 57-29 lead four minutes into play. Another 3-pointer by Howery, a two from McKenzie and an inside score by Coubal put VC ahead 64-36 after three quarters.
Both teams cooled off considerably in the final quarter of the contest as Ventura coasted in with the 29-point decision.
Ferrara added seven rebounds and four points to the effort and LeBrun had five boards along with her other totals. McKenzie added seven points in limited minutes in the victory.
Ventura next travels to Cuesta College on Saturday Jan. 13. Tip-off in San Luis Obispo is scheduled for 5:00 pm.