Strong Second Half Propels Pirates

The Pirates' women's basketball team opened the 2022-23 campaign with a 63-55 victory over Skyline College Friday at the Wild West Shootout at West Los Angeles College in Culver City. Ventura, ranked No. 7 in the Southern California Pre-Season Coaches Poll used a 43-29 advantage in the second half to propel them to victory. Kylie Gallick had a 20-20 double-double with 21 points and 23 rebounds while Sofia Torres-Reyes had 17 points and nine boards. Alisha Cruz-Lisberg scored 15 for VC (1-0).

Gallick converted a Torres-Reyes assist for two on the first possession of the game, and Cruz-Lisberg hot from three to make it 7-4 in the early going. The Trojans, ranked No. 9 in NorCal, came back with their own shot from range to tie, and scored the final three points of the first period to hold a 12-9 lead at the quarter break.

Jocelyn Contreras hit a mid-range jumper early in the second to cut the deficit to one before Skyline went on a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to grab a 21-13 advantage with 5:12 remaining in the half. Gallick scored inside at the 3:18 mark to break the Trojan run, and Torres-Reyes' shot from range pulled VC back to within 22-18. The Pirates trailed 26-20 at halftime.

Ventura came alive in the third quarter as Cruz-Lisberg scored in traffic after a drive to the basket on the first possession. Gallick followed a Skyline field goal with a bucket inside, and Torres- Reyes connected for two 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give Ventura a 31-30 lead. Skyline netted two more scores to answer before the Pirates held them scoreless for five minutes.  During the run, Cruz-Lisberg sandwiched a pair of deuces around a field goal by Gallick to move VC ahead 37-34. Skyline closed the stanza with a three and a pair of deuces while Gallick and Torres-Reyes each scored in the final minute for Ventura. The teams entered the final period knotted at 41.

Gallick scored again inside, then hit a pair of free throws before Contreras nailed a big three to put VC ahead 48-44 with 4:40 remaining in the game. Cruz-Lisberg then scored on two more drives and Gallick hit another field goal to extend the lead to 54-46. Ventura hit enough free throws down the stretch to hold of fthe Trojans to claim the season-opening win, 63-55.

Gallick's line was impressive, shooting 7-11 from the floor and 7-10 at the free throw line with five offensive boards and 18 defensive caroms. She also took a charge in the game. Cruz-Lisberg also had a night with 15 points in 28 minutes of play with no turnovers. Torres-Reyes handed out four assists. Haley Bennett came off the bench to hand out two dimes while taking a charge and Contreras also dished up a pair of helpers. Alina Olivo played an excellent floor game in her debut for the orange and black.

Ventura shot 40 percent from the field for the game, 15-29 (52 percent) in the second half. They also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Trojans 48-31.

The Pirates move to the tournament semifinals against College of the Canyons on Saturday Nov. 12. Tip-off with the Cougars is slated for 5:00 pm in Culver City.