Heurung, Santizo Sign With CSU-Monterey Bay

  May 29, 2009    All-American point guard Michelle Santizo and All-Conference forward Julie Heurung have become the first two members of the Pirate class of 2009 to commit to their new school for the 2009-10 season.  The pair have each signed national letters of intent to continue their academic and basketball careers at California State University, Monterey Bay.  They will join former Pirates Veronica Williams '07 and Lindsay Trout '08 on the Otters' roster.  The head coach at CSUMB is Rene Jemenez (VC class of 2001) and she is assisted by Tina Samaniego (VC '01). 

Santizo, who came to VC from Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard, became the program's fifth All-American this past season.  She earned a first-team selection on the State Farm / WBCA All-American team and was also named first team All-State and first team All-Western State Conference.  She averaged 9.5 points, 3.9 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game in starting all 35 games for VC in 2008-09.  As point guard, she had an assist to turnover ratio of 2.6:1, and was a tenacious defender as well.  Michelle finished her career in the 19th spot on the team's all-time rebounding list.  But beyond the stats, Michelle brought an unmatched toughness and competitiveness to the floor that spread throughout the team.  She worked her way into the starting point guard position mid-way through her freshman season, and the Pirates were 48-2 over two seasons with Santizo as the starting floor general.

Heurung came to Ventura College from Buena High School, and at 6'3" was a presence in the middle throughout her career.  She averaged 10.4 points and 8.8 rebounds this past season, playing in and starting 34 of VC's 35 contests.  She shot 54.1 percent from the floor and hit 68.8 percent of her free throws, while dishing out 1.9 assists per outing.  Julie also connected on four of six 3-pointers on the year, including one with nine seconds remaining to send the game to overtime at Santa Barbara in one of the most dramatic shots in recent Pirate history.  She also hit the winning charity toss for VC in the state quarterfinal game against Foothill.  Julie worked her way to the 8th position on the program's field goal percentage record books, she is 7th all-time in career rebounds, and Julie is 10th in career rebound average.