VC Women Fall to Hancock in Regular Season Finale

The Pirates' women's basketball team sailed into rough seas Friday, dropping its regular season finale 56-42 to visiting Allan Hancock. Ventura (18-10, 9-3) held a 35-31 lead in the final minute of the third quarter before giving up the big fourth quarter to the Bulldogs. Tiernan Phillips had 12 points and seven rebounds to lead the way for VC while Alexa Coubal scored seven points with 11 boards. Sam McKenzie and Alexis Howery also netted seven points in the setback.

The teams were locked in close combat in the first quarter with five lead changes, one of which was on a 3-pointer by Olivia Huynh, and three ties. Neither team led by more than three points in the stanza, the Bulldog's advantage at the end of the period after a 3-pointer with 1:16 remaining.

The Pirates seemed to come alive in the second quarter when Phillips and Coubal put together back-to-back scores for the sixth lead change of the game. Phillips and Coubal each made a pair of free throws to put VC ahead 20-16 at the 2:54 mark, but Hancock came back with six of the final eight points of the half for a 22-22 tie at intermission.

Ventura again came out strong after halftime. Howery, who was in foul trouble in the first half, got things going with a jumper and Elena Ferrara had a steal and lay-up. Phillips hit a charity shot and Howery hit from range to put Ventura ahead 30-26 midway through the stanza. VC maintained the lead with another Howery jumper and a free throw by McKenzie, but the Bulldogs made a pair of free throws after a questionable foul call to bring them back to within 35-33 in the closing seconds of the period.

It was all Bulldogs in the final quarter, however, as Hancock scored a two and a three on their first two possessions. Ferrara came back with a lay-up and Phillips made one of two free throws to knot the score at 38. Amari Hurt answered a AHC score with a jumper with 6:19 remaining by the Pirates were outscored 16-2 the rest of the game.

The Pirates finish the regular season in a second place tie with Hancock in the standings, but will receive the No. 2 rank in the conference heading into playoff seedings. VC will find out their playoff fate in the afternoon on Sunday Feb. 25 and will likely host a first round game on Wednesday Feb. 28 at 7:00 pm.