Pirates Run Away from Lemoore in Home Opener

The VC women's basketball team ran away from visiting Lemoore College Friday in an 81-49 victory over the Eagles at the Athletic Event Center. Charnelle Nichols scored a game-high 17 points to lead five Pirates in double figures. Sam McKenzie finished with 16 points while Devin Feiereisen netted 11. Alexa Coubal had a double double of 10 points with 17 rebounds and Alanna Topete scored 11 with 11 assists.

The Eagles started the night out with a 3-pointer, but that would be their only highlight. A lay-up by Coubal and a three from Nichols gave Ventura a 5-3 lead two possessions later.

Feiereisen made a pair of free throws for a 7-5 advantage with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter to begin a 6-0 run giving the Pirates a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the night. Coubal netted a pair of free shots for a 13-9 VC edge at the end of the first period.

Lemoore managed to stay around in the second quarter, pulling to within 15-13 at the 8:07 mark and within 21-17at the 2:28 mark. Nichols' trey and two free shots by Topete gave the Pirates a 28-19 margin at intermission.

Ventura slowly pulled away in the third quarter. Topete made a free throw, Aiyana Gonzalez scored off of Topete's assist and McKenzie scored an easy two for a 5-0 run to a 36-24 VC lead with 6:13 remaining in the stanza. Soon thereafter, VC put the game away with a 14-0 run. Nichols started the streak with a three and Feiereisen made a charity shot, followed by a three by Milan Garcia, a lay-up by McKenzie, and another triple from Nichols. McKenzie's two free throws completed the run for a 52-30 Ventura advantage with 1:44 on the clock.

The Pirates did not look back, scoring a season-high 29 points in the final quarter for the 81-49 victory.

Danielle Salazar scored eight points for the Pirates in five minutes of play and Topete finished with seven rebounds. McKenzie and Nichols each pulled in six caroms. Nichols also totaled three steals in the game.

Ventura next travels to Long Beach for a game on Tuesday Dec. 3 at 5:00 pm.