Ventura Drops Final Contest of 2021

The Ventura College women's basketball team had a cold shooting first quarter, and visiting Irvine Valley shot the lights out in the second as the Pirates dropped their final game of 2021 to the Lasers at the Athletic Event Center Thursday. Alyssandra Lacanilao had 19 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead Ventura and Sofia Torres-Reyes hit four treys for 14 points. Sam Martinez led Ventura on the glass with nine rebounds.

It was a rough go of things in the first quarter for the Pirates, whose last two game dates on Dec. 22 and 29 were postponed due to Covid issues. VC managed just one field goal in the opening 10 minutes, a 3-pointer by Sea'Ana Egizi, and IVC held a 19-3 lead at the quarter break.

Ventura heated up in the second period, connecting on 50 percent of their field goal attempts, including 6-11 from beyond the arc.  The Lasers played phenomenally, however, making an astronomical 8-10 shots from 3-point land and 14-16 shots overall in the period to take a 57-25 lead at intermission.

The Pirates kept up the fight, outscoring Irvine 18-17 in the third behind 15 points combined from Lacanilao and Torres-Reyes, before falling short in the final period in the 90-51 setback.

Lacanilao added four assists and a pair of steals to her point total and Torres-Reyes also had a pair of thefts. Egizi scored a career-high nine points and Maddie Ozbourn had six points with two steals. 

Ventura's Western State Conference opener at Santa Barbara scheduled for Wednesday Jan. 5 has been postponed due to Covid health and safety protocols at SBCC, so the Pirates will open WSC play at home on Saturday Jan. 8 hosting Allan Hancock College at 7:00 pm.