The VC women's basketball team dropped a Western State Conference contest against Allan Hancock College Saturday at the Athletic Event Center, 47-31. Sam McKenzie and Alexa Coubal each scored eight points to lead the Pirates and Coubal also pulled down 15 rebounds. Charnelle Nichols had six boards and Aiyana Gonzalez grabbed five caroms with two assists and three steals. Milan Garcia handed out five assists for VC.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams in the game. Alanna Topete got the Pirates on the board at the 6:38 mark of the first quarter before the Bulldogs scored five straight for a 7-2 margin midway through the period. Danielle Salazar, Ariella Harrison and Coubal also found the bottom of the net in the stanza and Ventura trailed 9-8 at the quarter break.
After a four-minute scoring drought, McKenzie and Coubal scored on back-to-back possessions to keep the one-point deficit, 13-12. Unfortunately, Ventura was unable to get another bucket before halftime and trailed 17-12 at intermission.
Coubal ended the Pirates' scoring drought on the opening possession of the third quarter and Topete followed with a pair of free throws. McKenzie scored to make it 21-18 with 6:42 on the clock before the Bulldogs went on a 14-2 run to reestablish control. VC trailed 34-20 heading to the final period.
The Pirates were unable to get untracked in the fourth quarter as Hancock pulled away for the win.
Ventura returns to action on Wednesday Jan. 29 at Oxnard. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm against the Condors.