The Ventura College women's basketball team fell behind by 10 points midway through the first quarter, came back to force overtime, but ultimately fell in the quarterfinals of the Tom Gilcrest Invitational at College of the Sequoias in Visalia Friday. Santa Rosa prevailed in overtime 68-65, sending the Pirates into an elimination game on Saturday against Pasadena at 2:00 pm. Alex Kalmbach came off the bench to lead Ventura (6-2) with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Pirates started out in a funk, shooting 2-6 from the floor and 0-3 from the foul line with four turnovers as they fell behind 14-4 at the 4:16 mark of the first quarter. They were able to close to within 18-11 with a pair of free shots by Makenna Murray just before the end of the first quarter.
Santa Rosa nailed a 3-pointer to start the second period, returning the VC deficit to double figures. While the Pirate defense held the Bear Cubs scoreless for the next five minutes, VC managed just three charity shots and a field goal during that time, coming back to within 21-16 when Sienna Brown hit a jumper at the 4:46 mark. Ventura outscored Santa Rosa 8-2 over the final two minutes of the half to pull to within 30-28 at intermission.
VC took their first lead of the game at the 7:58 mark of the third quarter when Murray nailed a 3-pointer from a Carolyn Ruffino assist, making the score 31-30. SRJC was able to regain control, however, and the Pirates were limited to just nine points in the quarter, trailing 41-37 after three.
Ventura seemed to get untracked somewhat to begin the fourth as Kalmbach scored five straight points to regain the advantage. Another Murray triple made it 45-43 with 8:05 on the clock, but Santa Rosa was able to regain at 52-47 lead with 4:26 remaining in regulation. Murray nailed her third long-ranger of the game, and Kalmbach hit a bucket to tie the score at the 1:40 mark, and Brooke Zamora's 3-pointer put VC ahead in the final minute. Santa Rosa was able to quickly answer, however, and took a 57-55 lead with five seconds remaining.
Following a timeout and advancing the ball for the throw in, the Pirates ran a play that got the ball to Kyleesha Green. She drove the left baseline, hitting a lay-up as the buzzer sounded to send the game to overtime, tied at 57.
Both teams had their chances in the extra time and Murray's three put VC ahead 65-64 with 55 seconds remaining. The Bear Cubs were able to answer with their own 3-pointer, and when a Pirate drive fell short, VC was forced to foul. Santa Rosa hit one of two free throws, and VC's desperation three bounced off the rim, sending the Pirates to the 68-65 defeat.
Ventura struggled shooting the ball all night, hitting 14 of 32 free throw attempts (44 percent), and shooting 21-72 from the floor (29 percent).
Murray finished with 14 points and five rebounds while Zamora recorded 13 points with six boards. Brown just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds and Green had four assists and four steals. Amani White led VC on the boards with 11.
The Pirates move to the elimination bracket of the tournament, facing Pasadena on Saturday Dec. 5 at 2:00 pm.