Women's Basketball Drops Wild West Finale

The Pirates' women's basketball team dropped the Wild West Shootout finale Sunday to host West Los Angeles 66-58. Sam McKenzie scored 18 points with three assists to lead VC and Devin Feiereisen scored 14. Alexa Coubal recorded 11 points with 11 rebounds while Charnelle Nichols netted nine points.

The game was intense from the start with the teams trading buckets early. Feiereisen's lay-up at the 5:30 mark of the first quarter gave Ventura a 6-5 lead and a three by McKenzie stretched the advantage to 9-5. The Wildcats ended the period on a 10-2 run, however, and Ventura trailed 19-11 at the quarter break.

The Pirates made attempts to get back into the game early in the second, but were turned back by West LA on numerous occasions. Alanna Topete made a lay-up with 4:24 on the clock to pull VC to within 27-23, but the Wildcats scored the next eight points to regain control. A Nichols three ended the Ventura skid, and Feiereisen made a lay-up followed by a bucket from McKenzie to bring the Pirates back to 35-30 before a WLAC bucket in the final minute set the halftime score to 37-30.

It took Ventura less than three minutes to catch up in the third quarter as McKenzie's field goal gave the Pirates a 40-39 lead with 7:10 on the clock. Coubal's old-fashioned 3-point play put VC ahead 43-41 a minute later before WLAC ran off eight straight points. Nichols hit a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch in the third, but the Pirates still trailed 53-49 heading to the final stanza.

VC continued the fight with McKenzie hitting a three and connecting on a pair of charity shots to pull Ventura to within 57-54 with 5:52 left to play. Feiereisen's lay-up made it 59-56 a minute later, and Coubal knocked down two free shots at the 2:21 mark pulling the Pirates to within two points, 60-58. Unfortunately, VC could get no closer in the 66-58 decision.

The Pirates will make their home debut next week in the VC-Kiwanis Tournament.