Pirate Defense Locks Down Cuesta in Victory

The VC women's basketball team outscored visiting Cuesta 19-0 in the third quarter, and the Pirate defense held the Cougars to 30 percent shooting and forced 28 Cuesta turnovers in Ventura's 77-34 victory Saturday night. Kylie Gallick put up another double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds and Kenya Edelhart netted 15 points with six steals and a pair of assists. Alisha Cruz-Lisberg tallied 13 points with two dimes and Sofia Torres-Reyes grabbed eight steals defensively while hitting for 12 points for VC (13-4, 2-0).

Midway through the first quarter VC went on a 12-0 run to take over the contest. With the Pirates trailing 7-6 at the 5:50 mark, Jasmine Glover cashed in a Cruz-Lisberg dime on a fast break for to give Ventura the lead for good. Edelhart followed with a drive and bucket and Torres-Reyes netted back-to-back scores to double up the Cougars 14-7. Cruz-Lisberg and Edelhart closed the period with field goals and Ventura held an 18-7 lead at the end of one quarter of play. VC held Cuesta scoreless for the final 7:14 to take control.

Ventura answered each Cuesta score early in the second quarter, and Edelhart hit a three from a pass by Cruz-Lisberg for a 27-14 Pirate margin midway through the stanza. Torres-Reyes hit another jumper, Gallick scored one of two free throws, Glover scored in transition, and Gallick hit a putback to stretch the lead to 20, 34-14. Cruz-Lisberg made a lay-up in the final minute and Ventura led 36-17 at halftime.

The third period was all Pirates. Led by an outstanding defensive effort, VC held the Cougars to 0-7 shooting and forced 12 turnovers, nine with steals. VC went on a 19-0 run over the 10 minutes as Ventura blew the game wide open, leading 55-17 headed to the fourth.

Over the first three minutes of the fourth, VC outscored Cuesta 9-3 for a 44-point lead. Cruz-Lisberg made it a 21-point run opening the quarter, and Torres-Reyes answered a Cuesta three with a pair of charity shots. Gallick sandwiched a pair of makes around one of two free shots to complete the run with a 64-20 lead with 7:18 remaining. Talitha Draper netted six points down the stretch for VC and Leilani Manuel added a pair of free throws and bucket to the effort. In the end Ventura posted the 77-34 triumph.

The Pirates shot 47 percent from the floor on the night (31-66) and made 74 percent of their free throws (14-19). VC also held a 41-29 edge on the glass in the win.

Ventura next hosts Moorpark College on Wednesday Jan. 11. Tip-off at the Athletic Event Center is scheduled for 5:00 pm ahead of the VC men's game at 7:00 pm.