Lacanilao, Victor Lead VC Past LA Pierce

Alyssandra Lacanilao scored 19 points on 6-10 shooting, 3-6 from three, and Mya Victor nearly produced a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocked shots to lead the Pirates' women's basketball team to a 77-35 victory at Los Angeles Pierce College Monday afternoon. Kenya Edelhart totaled 11 points in the game while Kylie Gallick had a double-double recording 10 points and 10 boards in the total team victory for Ventura.

Another slow start plagued the Pirates as they made just one of their first 10 shots with four turnovers in falling behind 4-2 midway through the first quarter. Alisha Cruz-Lisberg hit a 17-foot jumper off an Edelhart assist to put VC ahead for good 5-4, and Lacanilao hit three free throws with 0.7 seconds on the clock after being fouled on a shot attempt 30-feet from the basket for a15-9 Pirate lead at the end of the period.

Lacanilao's charity tosses started a 12-0 run that got the Pirates untracked. Edelhart started the second stanza with a jumper and Victor followed with a blocked shot on defense, then an inside score on the offensive end. Lacanilao converted an old-fashioned 3-point play and Maddie Ozbourn converted in the paint with an up-and-under move for a 24-9 VC advantage. Ventura continued the effort throughout the period for a 36-18 advantage at intermission.

Lacanilao took over in the third quarter, scoring the next 13 points for the Pirates. She hit back-to-back three's for a 42-21 advantage, then nailed a triple off a pass from Gallick to end a 5-0 LAPC run.  A pair of strong drives followed for the sophomore guard before Edelhart and Cruz-Lisberg scored to close the period with a 53-26 Pirate lead.

Sea'Ana Egizi then caught fire in the fourth with a pair of makes from range. Edelhart scored on a drive and lay-up, then hit Sofia Torres-Reyes on the break as VC pulled away for the 77-35 victory.

Victor nearly accomplished her triple double in just 21 minutes of action, and she added a team-high three assists with a steal. Torres-Reyes also handed out three dimes with eight points while Egizi netted eight in the final period. Ozbourn and Sam Martinez pulled in eight and seven rebounds, respectively, as Ventura controlled the glass with a 52-31 advantage. Lacanilao and Torres-Reyes each grabbed three steals defensively.

Ventura's next outing is scheduled for Saturday Jan. 22 at Oxnard. Tip-off at the Condors' Nest is slated for 3:00 pm.