Ventura Races Past Mission in Make-Up Game

The Pirates' women's basketball team raced past Los Angeles Mission Monday 71-40 in a game rescheduled from Jan. 8. Sam McKenzie exploded for 25 points while Alexa Coubal netted 21 points with 10 rebounds. Aiyana Gonzalez pulled down a game-high 16 boards and Danielle Salazar added eight points off the bench for VC.

Ventura got off to a slow start in the game, falling behind 8-4 midway through the first quarter. The Eagles stretched their advantage to 12-6 with 3:37 on the clock before Milan Garcia's 3-pointer seemed to spark the Pirates. Coubal followed with a lay-up and a jumper, and McKenzie hit a jumper in the closing seconds as VC held a 15-12 lead at the end of the period.

The run continued into the second stanza as Coubal made a lay-up and Gonzalez scored a deuce. McKenzie then scored back-to-back buckets to close a 17-0 run for Ventura with 5:31 left in the first half. Danielle Salazar cashed in an assist from Coubal for two, then took McKenzie's helper and made a three to close the period and Ventura led 32-18 at halftime. 

The Pirates continued to pull away from Mission after intermission, scoring eight of the first nine points in the third quarter. Coubal made one of two free throws and McKenzie had a steal that led to an easy two. Coubal answered an LAMC bucket and Salazar hit for three for a 40-19 margin with 7:25 remaining in the period. Ventura maintained the edge for the rest of the stanza as Coubal's inside score put the Pirates ahead 54-31 headed to the final 10 minutes of play.

VC had things wrapped up in the fourth quarter, but continued to augment their lead. McKenzie sandwiched a pair of scores around a filed goal by Nichols down the stretch to set the final 71-40 margin.

Garcia scored nine points for Ventura in the game and Gonzalez added five assists to her stat line. McKenzie and Nichols each grabbed six rebounds.

The Pirates next host Cuesta on Saturday Feb. 15 at 3:00 pm.