Strong Third Lifts Ventura past East LA

The VC women's basketball team used a strong third quarter to turn a two-point deficit at halftime into a a five point advantage headed to the final period in their 67-61 victory at East Los Angeles College Wednesday. Kylie Gallick recorded her 12th double-double in 13 games with 14 points and 16 rebounds and Kenya Edelhart led the offense with 17 points in the game. Jocelyn Contreras poured in 14 points with seven boards and Sofia Torres-Reyes netted nine with six caroms. Jasmine Glover scored eight in the win.

Edelhart and Contreras pushed the Pirates to an 8-2 lead early in the game. Torres-Reyes then assisted a Gallick jumper and Contreras hit a three and VC threatened to pull away from the Huskies early, 13-4. Glover and Edelhart each scored to make it 20-11 with 2:02 remaining in the first period before ELAC hit a pair of buckets to close to within 20-15 at the end of the quarter.

Gallick and Contreras each scored early in the second to lift the edge back to nine, 24-15, before East LA went on an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 26-24 lead. The game was then tied at 26, 29, 31 and 34 before ELAC took a 36-34 advantage into halftime.

Ventura opened the third stanza with an 11-2 run to reassert control in the match-up. Edelhart made a lay-up on the opening possession and answered an ELAC score with another drive to the basket. Alisha Cruz-Lisberg scored a deuce and Edelhart hit on an old-fashioned 3-point play. Gallick closed the run with an inside score for a 45-38 Pirate margin with 6:16 remaining in the quarter. Glover was a perfect 4-4 at the foul line in the period, and Gallick's two charity shots made it 52-47 at the quarter break.

The Pirates received consecutive lay-ups by Gallick, Contreras and Edelhart to take a 60-50 lead with 7:46 on the clock, but the Huskies countered with their own 6-0 run. Cruz-Lisberg had a key steal, lay-up and free throw at the 4:19 mark to stretch the lead back to seven, 63-56, and Torres-Reyes also had a key score at the 1:37 mark for a 65-59 VC edge. Edelhart hit a jumper at the end of the next shot clock to set the final 67-61 margin.

The game also featured the Pirate debut for freshman Tiernan Phillips, who has been battling injuries since September. The Ventura High School product will look for an expanded role in the Pirate line-up as she fully recovers headed to the new year.

The Pirates will take a few days off for the Christmas holiday before reconvening on Thursday and Friday Dec. 29 and 30, hosting the VC-Optimist Club Holiday Crossover. On the first day, Irvine Valley will take on Glendale at 4:00 pm before Ventura hosts El Camino at 6:00 pm.  On the 30th, IVC will take on El Camino and the Pirates will battle Glendale at 4:00 and 6:00 pm, respectively.