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     A perfect ending to a perfect regular season.  Seven Pirates scored in double figures as the Ventura College women's basketball team put the finishing touches on the program's third undefeated regular season, this one a 31-0, (matching the 30-0 achieved in 1995-96 and the 33-0 mark earned in 1999-2000) with a 113-62 victory over Allan Hancock College Saturday night at the Athletic Event Center.  Next up for VC, the state playoffs, where anything can happen, with the Pirates hungry for more, and wary of every opponent.

     Saturday's regular season finale was never in doubt.  Right off the opening tip, Julie Heurung tipped the ball to Michelle Santizo on the Pirates' side of the center jump circle.  Santizo hit Erika Ward on the right side, who, in turn, passed to Jessi Selleh breaking from the left side to the middle of the paint.  Selleh hit the lay-up and VC was ahead 2-0 in less time than it took you to read about it.  Ventura (31-0, 12-0) would score 18 of the game's first 20 points, building an 18-2 lead on Kris King's basket with 14:46 remaining in the opening period.  Selleh led the charge with seven early points, connecting on two deuces and a 3-pointer.  The Pirates had a scare early in the game when Santizo took a hit from a Hancock player on a fast break lay-up in the game's seventh minute.  What appeared to be a possible knee injury turned out to be a deep thigh bruise, but Santizo would not return to the game nonetheless.  She is expected to be ready for VC's regional semi-final game next Saturday.

     Allan Hancock (2-26, 0-12) momentarily took advantage with a 6-0 run over the next two minutes, but consecutive buckets by Donielle Griggs stopped the Bulldog charge.  Amanda Padilla, Santizo's replacement, then hit a trey and a fast-break lay-up to put the Pirates ahead 27-8 at the 11:15 mark.  VC led 35-14 at the 8:15 mark when they went on a 10-0 run to really put the game on ice.  Four Pirates hit baskets during the run, including Griggs, Padilla, Selleh and Chanelle Brennan.  Following a Hancock basket, Brennan hit a 3-pointer from the left side to make the score 48-16 with 4:29 left in the period.  Ventura went into the half with a 59-22 lead.

     The Pirates scored the first nine points of the second half, including back-to-back baskets by Griggs to open the stanza, followed by a Ward free throw, a Selleh basket, and a fast break lay-up by Brennan.  Hancock hit a 3-pointer to close the gap to 74-32 at the 13:31 mark, but Heurung answered with a trey of her own from the right wing, right in front of the Ventura bench, on the next possession.  That started a 18-0 Pirate run over the next 3:10.  Heurung completed a traditional 3-point play followed by a Griggs deuce and another made shot from Heurung.  A pair of charity tosses from Selleh were followed by an old-fashioned 3-point play from Ward and another free throw from Ward on the next possession.  Griggs hit another basket to make the score 92-32 with 10:11 left in the contest.  

     The only question that remained was who would put VC over the century mark and what would the final score be.  Christine McPherson's 3-pointer at the 7:19 mark took the Pirates to 99 points, and Brennan hit another fast-break lay-up to put a third digit on the scoreboard.  Ventura got solid contributions from McPherson, Brenda Van Someren, King, Lacey Escamilla, and Irma Rivera down the stretch en route to the 113-62 final score.

     The 113 points made it four games this season in which the Pirates topped the century mark.  It was also the seventh-highest point output in team history (since 1990-91).  VC shot an remarkable 61.6 percent from the floor (45-73), and tied for the second-most assists in a game with 36, even with the 36 dimes dropped on LA Pierce in 1997, behind only the 43 assists against the Brahmas in 2000.  And the seven Pirates in double-figures probably sets a record, as well, although those statistics are not kept in the VC record book.

     Brennan led all scorers with 23 points, followed by Griggs with 18 and Selleh with 16.  King totaled 15 points while Ward and Heurung each had 12.  Padilla contributed 10 points to the cause.  Heurung completed her double-double with 12 rebounds and Ward had seven boards while King grabbed five caroms.  Ward had a double-double of her own, with 12 assists while Selleh handed out six dimes.  Heurung, Van Someren,  and Padilla each had four assists.  Heurung also had three steals and two blocks to lead the VC defense.

     The Pirates complete the regular season with a perfect 31-0 record.  They have won their 19th consecutive Western State Conference North Division championship with a 12-0 mark.  They will await the Southern California seeding meeting that will take place on Monday.  They will likely be the #2 seed behind Mt. San Antonio College, despite defeating the Mounties twice in the early season by 23 and 17 points, due to the relatively weak standing of the WSC-North as compared to Mt. SAC's South Coast Conference North Division.  That would mean a home game on Saturday Feb. 28 at a time to be determined, most likely 7:00 pm.  Fans can check back to www.VCweplayhard.com for all of the Pirates' playoff details as the week progresses.  All of VC's playoff games will be heard at www.HomeFieldSPorts.com.