Pirate Defense Preserves Victory Against Condors

The Pirates' women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort to preserve a 38-33 win at Oxnard College Saturday afternoon. VC held the Condors 23 points under their season average to offset a difficult outing on offense for their second straight Western State Conference win. Kylie Gallick led Ventura with nine points, 15 rebounds, three steals and an assist. Alyssandra Lacanilao totaled eight points for the Pirates (7-10, 2-1).

Ventura got off to a fast start when Lacanilao cashed in an offensive rebounds by Mya Victor for three quick points on the game's opening possession. Kenya Edelhart scored on a drive on the next trip down the floor for a 5-2 lead before the Pirate offense went ice-age cold. Oxnard scored the next eight points for a 10-5 lead, but buckets by Lacanilao and Sofia Torres-Reyes knotted the score at 10 to end the period.

Ventura missed 11 straight shots in the second quarter and committing nine turnovers in scoring one point, a Gallick free throw, in the 10-minute span. The Pirate defense held fast, however, limiting the Condors to 5-17 shooting from the field in the stanza to trail 20-11 at intermission.

After an Oxnard free throw stretched the deficit to 10 points early in the third quarter, the Pirates began their comeback . Sea'Ana Egizi ended VC's offensive drought with a putback at the 8:29 mark before a Gallick free shot and two charity tosses from Sam Martinez narrowed the margin to 23-16 with 5:31 on the clock. Victor scored on the next possession and Gallick netted four straight points as the Pirates pulled to within three at the quarter break, 27-24.

Oxnard started the final period with a bucket, but would then go scoreless for over eight minutes. VC slowly continued their comeback, tying the score on Lacanilao's transition three from an Edelhart assist. Edelhart then gave Ventura the lead with a free shot with 5:14 remaining. Gallick hit another free throw, and Torres-Reyes hit two as the Pirate lead stretched to 33-29 at the 2:34 mark. Victor scored again on a sweet turn-around jumper and the Pirates pulled away for the 38-33 triumph.

Victor pulled in 14 rebounds to go along with six points and three steals in the game while Maddie Ozbourn, Torres-Reyes and Lacanilao each pulled in a pair of thefts.  The Pirates held a commanding 60-31 edge on the glass in the game.

Ventura makes a quick turnaround, hosting Allan Hancock College on Monday Jan. 24 in a make-up game. Tip-off at the Athletic Event Center is scheduled for 6:00 pm. The game will be streamed live on the VC Sports Network.