Second-ranked Ventura took advantage of 35 fouls on SBCC to beat the No. 18 Vaqueros 74-54 on Saturday night in a first-place WSC North women’s basketball showdown at the Sports Pavilion.
The Pirates (24-3, 6-1 WSC North) shot 49 percent from the field and converted 32-of-47 free throws compared to 16-22 for the Vaqueros (17-9, 5-2).
Brooke Amenta scored 15 of her team-high 17 points in the second half. Mhiah Vickers added 10 for the Vaqueros, who shot just 28 percent and made only four of 21 shots from 3-point country.
“I had a mental check at halftime because I realized I wasn’t going as hard as I needed to,” said Amenta. “I wanted to pump up the team and get our energy going.”
Santa Barbara made only two field goals in the last 8:15 of the first half and trailed 26-17 at intermission.
Ventura went on a 20-9 run to open the second half, boosting the lead to 20 points (46-26) on six straight free throws with 12:20 to play.
SBCC picked up its 10th team foul eight minutes into the second half, putting the visitors into a double-bonus situation for the last 12 minutes. Three Vaqueros fouled out of the game in the last five minutes.
Lisa Maria Sanchez, a 5-foot-3 guard, topped Ventura with 19 points. The Pirates, who committed 25 fouls, dominated the boards 41-21.
The Vaqueros travel to Cuesta on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest.
