The Pirates' women's basketball team had four players in double-figures Wednesday as they pulled away from Allan Hancock College for a 67-44 victory in Santa Maria. Sam McKenzie slashed her way to 20 points while Alexa Coubal turned in 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Tiernan Phillips had a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards and Elena Ferrara turned in a strong performance with 10 points in the game. With the win, VC (14-8, 5-1) finishes the first round of Western State Conference play in second place in the standings.
VC got off toa fast start, scoring eight of the game's first 10 points. Coubal scored on the opening possession on a pick and roll pass from Daphné LeBrun. McKenzie then scored on a coast-to-coast drive and Coubal answered a Bulldog score with an inside bucket. McKenzie's lay-up with 6:13 left in the first quarter gave Ventura an early 8-2 advantage. Hancock came back, however, going on an 8-0 run over the next four minutes to take a slim 2-point lead. Ferrara's 3-pointer at the 1:16 mark put VC ahead for good, and Coubal followed with an old-fashioned 3-point play. Ferrara was fouled after a steal, converting two free throws before she hit an off-balance runner at the buzzer for an 18-13 Pirate advantage.
AHC hit a three to start the second period before the Pirates took control with a 9-0 run. McKenzie scored off a Phillips steal and Coubal made a pair of charity shots. McKenzie hit a pull-up jumper and Phillips cashed in McKenzie's dime for two. Leslie Salazar then made one of two free throws to give VC a 27-16 edge with 5:57 remaining in the half. Hancock pulled back to within seven before Coubal scored a deuce and Ferrara hit a trey to keep the lead in doubles figures, 32-22, at the 4:08 mark. Phillips extended the lead with a lay-up before McKenzie answered a Bulldog free throw with a pair of driving scores. Coubal netted a bucket inside and LeBrun hit a lay-up for a 42-25 Pirate lead at halftime.
Ventura's offense slowed in the third quarter. Phillips made two free throws in the opening minute before the Pirates went without a score for the next five minutes of game time. Hancock was limited to eight points in that span, however, and VC led 46-33 with 3:55 on the clock after Salazar broke the Pirates' skid with a lay-up from LeBrun's assist. AHC briefly cut the lead to single-digits on a 3-pointer with 1:09 left in the period, but Salazar quickly answered with another bucket and Alexis Howery's steal and assist to McKenzie for two put VC ahead 52-39 at the quarter break.
Phillips turned a Ferrara steal into two made foul shots and Coubal's two free throws extended the lead to 56-41 with 7:18 left to play. The Pirate advantage continued to grow throughout the period as VC's defense limited the Bulldogs to five points in the final 10 minutes. Howery hit a three late, then assisted a bucket by McKenzie to set the final 67-44 margin.
McKenzie added five rebounds, two assists and two steals to her point total and Howery dished out three helpers with three thefts. Coubal finished the game with three blocked shots and Salazar scored five points with nine rebounds. Ferrara also grabbed three steals in the contest.
The Pirates begin the second round of conference play on Saturday Feb. 3 with a 3:00 pm game time at Oxnard College.