Pirates Hold On for Victory Over El Camino

The Pirates' women's basketball team endured a poor shooting second half, along with El Camino's best shooting quarter of the year in VC's 60-53 victory on the first day of the VC-Optimist Club Holiday Classic Thursday evening. Ventura (11-3) was 8-33 from the floor in the second half, but still outlasted ECC's 6-8 3-point performance from the opening period. Jocelyn Contreras netted 15 points in the win while Kenya Edelhart and Alisha Cruz-Lisberg scored 13 and 10 points, respectively.

After missing their first shot, the Warriors connected on five straight from the floor, including three 3-pointers, to take the early 15-8 lead. Edelhart had a steal and bucket and Contreras cashed in Tiernan Phillips' assist for three with 4:05 remaining in the first quarter to pull the Pirates to within 15-14. ECC continued their hot shooting, however, ultimately sinking six of eight 3-point attempts in the period to hold a 27-18 advantage at the end of the quarter.

Ventura regained control in the second quarter with a 17-0 run over the first six minutes. Sofia Torres-Reyes hit a field goal and Contreras sandwiched a pair of makes from range around a three by Edelhart to take a 29-27 lead. Leilani Manuel had a steal that led to a Contreras breakaway before Torres-Reyes converted a steal and lay-up. Cruz-Lisberg scored inside to close the run for a 35-27 Pirate edge. VC led at halftime 39-29.

After VC shot 55 percent from the floor in the first half (17-31), they cooled off considerably in the second. The Pirates managed just three field goals in the third quarter, and El Camino scored on their first four possessions of the stanza, including three 3-pointers, to make a game out of it. The Warriors pulled to within 43-42 midway through the period before Phillips hit a pair of free throws to end the Ventura skid. VC led 45-42 headed to the final 10 minutes of play.

Talitha Draper scored on a putback, then cashing in an assist by Cruz-Lisberg for an "and-1" to extend the Ventura edge to 50-42 early in the fourth.Edelhart then scored on a drive to extend the lead to 10 points before the Warriors made one final push. ECC pulled to within 54-48 with 2:38 remaining before Torres-Reyes connected from three to put the game on ice. Ventura moved past El Camino with the 60-53 victory.

Draper garnered the starting nod and scored nine points with five rebounds in her first extended action of the year. Cruz-Lisberg led a 47-19 Pirate advantage on the glass with nine rebounds while Contreras and Torres-Reyes pulled in eight and seven boards, respectively. Edelhart had five assists while Cruz-Lisberg dropped four dimes.

Ventura will finish the VC-Optimist Club Classic on Friday Dec. 30 hosting Glendale College at 6:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.