SANTA BARBARA, CA – Returning home following its largest win of the season last Wednesday, the SBCC women's basketball team (8-9, 1-2) was outmatched in a 55-41 defeat at the hands of a talented Ventura (15-5, 3-1) team.
The Vaqueros kept things close for much of the first quarter, with guards Brianna Jacobs, Isabella Favazzo and Eva Carrejo all knocking down threes in the first six minutes of the game. After Carrejo's triple tied it at 9-9 though, the Pirates would take over, closing the opening period on an 8-0 run.
As Santa Barbara tried to cut into the lead before halftime, Ventura would score in a variety of ways as it went on another 13-2 spurt, blowing the game open with a commanding 33-15 advantage. After the break, the Pirates outscored the Vaqueros for the third straight quarter coming growing their lead to as large as 22 points.
SBCC had its best stretch in the fourth quarter, doubling Ventura 16-8 in points. Favazzo led the way with nine points (2-4 3FG), shooting 50 percent from inside and out. Kiani Rojas was SBCC's second-leading scorer with seven, while Natalie Bautista and Lia Rodriguez scored five each.
Santa Barbara will play its next two on the road, starting with Allan Hancock at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21.
