Pirates Battle Brahmas and Breast Cancer Wednesday Night

The VC women's basketball team hosted Pierce College Wednesday night in their eighth annual Ribbons Of Life Breast Cancer Awareness Game.  The Pirates defeated the Brahmas 72-34 for their 15th consecutive victory, and helped raise $3,970, including $2,007 in a silent auction held during the game, for the Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation of Ventura. Micaela Pericone-Kapp led the effort with a 15-point, seven rebound performance while Aubri Smith had 14 assists and 10 rebounds.

When the Pirates were good against the Brahmas, they were very good.  When they were not good, well...  VC opened the game with three 3-pointers, two from Pericone-Kapp and another from Makenna Murray.  Add in two free throws from Brooke Zamora and Ventura (22-5, 9-0) waqs spotted 11 points to begin the game.  VC hit nine of their first 15 shots, four of which were assisted by Aubri Smith.  The Pirates led 37-9 with the 7:10 mark when Felicia Magana turned a Carolyn Ruffino pass into the team's seventh triple of the night.

At that point, play began to slow down for Ventura.  They had three straight turnovers during one stretch, and did not score again for five minutes of game time. Ventura went into halftime with a 45-16 lead, but their play had fallen off significantly from the opening minutes of the contest.

The Brahmas never really threatened in the second half, but that did not keep the Pirates from struggling at times.  Ruffino, who scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half, converted an Aubri Smith assist into 3-points at the 9:46 mark of the second half to give VC its biggest lead of the night, 67-27.  From that point, Ventura would score just five points in the game's final minutes, allowing the Brahmas to play even.  The Pirates coasted in for the 72-34 win.

Aubri Smith added four steals to her double-double play, and Ruffino hit for 14 points, including four 3-pointers.  Zamora netted 13 points and Murray finished with nine.  Madison O'Donnell came off the bench to pull in six rebounds.

Ventura will next travel to Santa Barbara for a Valentine's Day special at 7:00 pm.  That game will be preceded by the Pirate men at 5:00 pm.

The Pirates and Brahmas with the honorary starters, all breast cancer survivors, for the eighth annual Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Game Wednesday night at the Athletic Event Center. Nearly $4,000 was raised for the Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation, including $2,007 in a silent auction held during the game.