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It is said that teams spend the first few
games of a season searching for an
identity. If that is the case, the
Pirates had best keep looking as they
connected on but 32 percent of their field
goal attempts in their 57-46
season-opening victory over El Camino
College Tuesday night at the Athletic
Event Center. There were signs of
promise, however, scattered throughout the
evening, like the play of sophomore Michelle
Santizo, who led the way with 10
points, seven rebounds, two assists, and
two steals.
It took a while for the Pirate offense to
get going, as Jessi
Selleh connected for VC's first points
of the season two minutes into the
contest. Santizo's free throw at the
9:22 mark of the opening half gave Ventura
(1-0) a 19-5 advantage and the rout
appeared to be on. Someone forgot to
tell VC, however, as the Pirates went the
next five minutes without a score.
El Camino (1-1) was unable to take
advantage of the Pirates' cold streak,
managing but five points during that
span. Freshman Chanelle
Brennan hit a charity toss and a
bucket to make the score 22-12 with 4:02
remaining, and VC went into intermission
ahead 29-16.
In the final period, VC never could get
untracked on the offensive end of the
floor, connecting on eight of 27 field
goal attempts. Julie
Heurung's free throw with 11:06 left
in the game gave the Pirates their biggest
lead of the night, 42-27. Another
two-minute scoring drought allowed the
Warriors to close the gap to 11 with 8:41
on the clock, and the Pirate lead hung
around the double-figure threshold the
rest of the way, winning 57-46.
Brennan led VC in the scoring column with
12 points, followed up with Santizo's
10. Freshman Erika
Ward and Heurung each contributed nine
points and Sophomore Donielle
Griggs added eight. Heurung was
the Pirates' leader on the boards with 12
followed by Santizo's seven. Ward
added five rebounds while Selleh, Brennan,
and Griggs each grabbed four caroms.
Santizo also led the team with her two
assists and two steals.
Ventura does not have much time to regroup
as they travel to the Vaquero Shootout at
Glendale College on Friday Nov. 14.
They will play the Fullerton Hornets at
3:00 pm in the tournament
quarterfinal. Games on Friday and
Saturday at Glendale will follow for
VC. The Pirates return home on
Saturday Nov. 22 in a contest against
Antelope Valley College.
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