The VC women's basketball team fought for the full 40 minutes Saturday despite their 86-68 setback against Santa Barbara at the Athletic Event Center. Sam McKenzie led Ventura with 24 points, five rebounds and four steals and Alexa Coubal posted a double-dozen with 12 points and 12 boards along with four assists. Danielle Salazar netted 18 points, including five made 3-pointers.
The Vaqueros got out to the quick start, opening up a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes of play. Aiyana Gonzalez ended the skid with a bucked after a steal by Coubal and McKenzie answered an SBCC deuce with a three. Charnelle Nichols' jumper pulled Ventura to within 13-11 with 3:54 on the clock and a steal and lay-up by McKenzie reduced the deficit to 14-13 a minute later. McKenzie and Ariella Harrison each scored as the quarter came to an end, but VC trailed 23-16 at the quarter break.
Unfortunately, the Pirate offense went cold in the second quarter and the Vaqueros went on a tear. The result was a 50-20 halftime deficit for Ventura.
Despite the margin, VC continued to battle in the second half. McKenzie sandwiched a pair of lay-up around a Nichols three, and Salazar also added a triple midway through the stanza. VC went on a 10-2 run to end the quarter. McKenzie started the run with a lay-up and Coubal sank six straight free shots. McKenzie ended the period with a steal and lay-up.
Salazar began a 27-point Pirate fourth quarter with a three and McKenzie converted an old-fashioned 3-point play. Later in the stanza Salazar surrounded a Milan Garcia lay-up with a two long-range bombs. The Pirates ended the contest with a 13-0 run to set the final margin.
Gonzalez grabbed nine rebounds in the game and added four assists. Nichols added five boards, three dimes and three steals.
VC next hosts Los Angeles Mission on Monday Feb. 10 in a make-up game from Jan. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm.