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There
are
some
games
when
the
offense
just
doesn't
click.
During
those
times
a
team
must
be
able
to
play
defense
to
be
successful.
Saturday
was
one
of
those
nights
for
the
Pirates
as
their
offense
could
only
muster
63
points,
its
fourth-lowest
point
total
of
the
season.
But
the
defense
was
strong,
holding
Oxnard
to
six
points
in
the
first
half,
tied
for
the
fifth-lowest
20-minute
total
in
the Mircetic
era
at
VC;
and
16
for
the
game,
tied
for
second-lowest
since
1990.
The
result
was
the
24th
consecutive
win
for
Ventura,
which
moves
to
5-0
in
WSC
play,
two
games
ahead
of
Santa
Barbara,
Moorpark,
and
LA
Pierce
in
the
conference
race.
The outcome of the game was never in
doubt. Chanelle
Brennan hit a runner in the paint 20
seconds in, and Oxnard (7-14, 2-3) missed
its first 12 shots, as VC built a 19-0
lead. It wasn't until the 8:43 mark
that the Condors earned their first point,
making one of two free throws, making the
score 19-1. Although the Pirate
offense struggled from that point on, they
still continued to expand their advantage,
scoring the game's next six points, a 3-ball
from Michelle
Santizo, a bucket by Kris
King, and a charity toss from Christine
McPherson, before OC hit their first
field goal of the half with 3:10 on the
clock. Following a 3-pointer from the
Condors on their next possession, Donielle
Griggs answered with her own trey, and a
bucket by Lacey
Escamilla and a free throw by King
closed the Pirates' first half
scoring. Ventura (24-0, 5-0) led at
intermission 31-6. Oxnard's six points
is tied for the fifth-lowest output by a VC
opponent in a half since 1990.
In the second stanza, the Pirate defense
continued to shine while the offense
continued to struggle. Oxnard was held
scoreless for the first eight minutes of the
period, making a pair of free throws at the
12:02 mark, and they did not hit a field
goal until there was 11:20 left on the
clock. In the meantime Ventura had
expanded its lead to 47-6, powered by eight
points from Griggs, mostly in transition off
of assists from Santizo and Erica
Ward. following OC's first field
goal which made the score 48-10, Amanda
Padilla hit consecutive shots, a
3-pointer and a long deuce, the latter of
which broke a four-minute Pirate scoring
drought. The lead got as large as 48
points, 59-11 on a field goal by McPherson
before the Condors scored five of the games
final nine points. Ventura won the
game 63-16, leaving their defensive effort
tied for second in the Mircetic era for
least points allowed in a game.
Griggs led the effort with 14 points while
Ward netted 11 with five assists and three
steals. Julie
Heurung added eight points, seven
rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
Despite struggling on the offensive end for
the second straight game, Brennan
contributed in the hustle-stat categories
with seven boards, three steals, and a
blocked shot. Santizo finished the
game with four assists, four rebounds, and a
pair of steals.
The Pirates will be on the road twice next
week. They travel to Santa Maria to
take on Allan Hancock College on Wednesday
Jan. 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00
pm following the men's game at 5:00
pm. Live updates will be available on
Joe Curley's College Sports Blog at http://blogs.venturacountystar.com/curley/
. Next Saturday, January 31, VC will
begin the second round of Western State
Conference play at Cuesta in San Luis
Obispo. That game, which also tips off
at 7:00 pm, can be heard on www.HomeFieldSports.com.
The Pirates will return to the Athletic
Event Center on Wednesday Feb. 4 against LA
Pierce in their annual WBCA
Pink Zone game for breast cancer
awareness.
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