Nikki Puga

• Article
• July 17, 2020

The VC women's basketball team has nine alumnae who are planning on transferring to four-year universities in the fall, with four planning to continue their basketball careers. This group adds to the long line of four-year transfers during the 30-year tenure of head coach Ned Mircetic. Since 1990-91, 164 Pirate alumnae have transferred to continue their education with 90 continuing their basketball careers at the four-year level.

• Article
• March 12, 2020

The Pirates' women's basketball team traveled to Lemoore Wednesday for the program's 19th CCCAA State Elite Eight, with aspirations of qualifying for the team's 16th Final Four, 10th State Finals appearance, and possibly winning the program's eighth state title. They came home Thursday, however, along with the other seven state championship hopefuls, after the CCCAA canceled the state tournament in response to the COVID-19 outbreak gripping the nation.

• Article
• February 01, 2020

Looking for a rebound, the Pirates' women's basketball team found a trap game instead. Coming off of Wednesday's emotional loss, VC headed to Allan Hancock College to face the well-rested Bulldogs and gave up 16 points off of turnovers and shot 37 percent from the field in dropping the 74-64 decision in Santa Maria. Madison Kast had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead Ventura (16-6, 2-2) and Talia Taufaasau scored 16 points with four boards. Cece Quintino contributed 11 points.

• Article
• January 26, 2020

Each year, the members of the sophomore class of the Ventura College women's basketball team each select a "Favorite Teacher" based on their own personal criteria. 2019-20 is the 15th year in which the team has honored their favorite teachers, and 84 awards have been presented, including this year. On Saturday January 25, VCCCD Board member Josh Chancer, VC President Dr. Kim Hoffmans, VC Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Damien Peña and Dean of Health, Kinesiology, Athletics and Performing Arts Dr. Tim Harrison helped the team honor the latest class of Favorite Teachers. These instructors, through their skill, expertise, thoughtfulness, and humanity have earned the distinction of being named the team's 2020 "Favorite Teachers".

• Article
• January 22, 2020

Finally playing their long-awaited Western State Conference opener, the VC women's basketball team used a balanced attack to defeat Oxnard 95-52 Wednesday evening at the Condors' Nest. Madison Kast led five players in double-figures with 16 points while Yasmine Ahllamara and Kimora Pooler each totaled 15 on the night. Talia Taufaasau netted 13 points while Cece Quintino put up an even dozen. Quintino handed out seven assists and LaDaesha Merriweather grabbed 11 boards for Ventura (15-4, 1-0).

• Article
• January 11, 2020

The Pirates' women's basketball team dropped a 72-61 decision to visiting Los Angeles Trade Tech Saturday night at the Athletic Event Center. The Pirates, who yielded more than 60 points for just the second time all season, made just 27 percent of their field goal attempts with 12 turnovers in the first half resulting in a 13-point deficit. Yasmine Ahllamara came off the bench to spark a better second half with 19 points and Talia Taufaasau totaled 11 points for Ventura (14-4). Cece Quintino handed out eight assists and Kimora Pooler had 13 rebounds in the loss.

• Article
• December 21, 2019

For the second night in a row, a sub-par effort led to a loss for the Ventura College women's basketball team. The Pirates shot just 29 percent from the floor, 20 percent from three, in falling to visiting College of the Canyons 67-57 at the Athletic Event Center. Talia Taufaasau netted 20 points with seven rebounds and four assists to lead VC (12-2) and Madison Kast scored 18 with seven boards. Kimora Pooler hauled in 13 rebound and LaDaesha Merriweather had 10 boards.

• Article
• December 20, 2019

The Pirates picked a bad day to have a bad day. Playing a Glendale team riding an 11-game winning streak, the Pirates' women's basketball team committed 20 turnovers and shot 19 percent from three, 4-21, including a 1-10 mark in the fourth quarter, in falling to the Vaqueros 57-50. Talia Taufaasau had 14 points and three assists for Ventura (12-1), and Madison Kast totaled 10 points with seven boards. Alaina Garcia came off the bench with eight points and Kimora Pooler pulled in 10 rebounds.

• Article
• December 14, 2019

A night after the Pirates controlled the paint they lit the basket up from afar, hitting 12 3-pointers in their 67-55 victory over San Francisco Saturday in the semifinals of the Buddy's All-Star Classic at Los Angeles Valley College. Talia Taufaasau hit four triples en route to a season-high 25 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists. Cece Quintino and Madison also hit double figures with 10 points each and LaDaesha Merriweather pulled down 10 rebounds. The Pirates (11-0) were 12-18 from 3-point land on the night with six different players hitting from range.

• Article
• December 07, 2019

In another tough, physical battle, the Ventura College women's basketball team remained the only undefeated team in the state with a 61-56 victory over Mt. San Antonio in the championship game of the Tom Gilcrest Invitational at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia. Tournament MVP Talia Taufaasau had 18 points and three blocked shots to lead the way and all-tournament selection Cece Quintino totaled 13 points, two assists and three steals.

• Article
• November 22, 2019

Showing the resilience of a mature basketball team, the Pirates outlasted a tenacious Cypress College squad 68-53 Friday in the semifinals of the VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions at the Athletic Event Center. In a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate, VC handled the Chargers all-out defensive pressure for the full 40 minutes to move to their 13th straight ToC finals appearance. Talia Taufaasau filled the stat sheet with 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal while Cece Quintino did the same with 11 points, eight dimes, six boards, three steals and two blocks.

• Article
• November 21, 2019

It was not pretty, but was certainly effective. The VC women's basketball team over-matched visiting Laney College 67-21 Thursday in the first round of the VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions. Cece Quintino made her season debut with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists while Madison Kast chipped in 13 points with seven boards. Kimora Pooler led the glass attack with nine rebounds and Alyssandra Lacanilao handed out four dimes for the Pirates (4-0).