Women’s basketball: Women come up short against Ventura

By Aaron Turner
The Guardsman

A historic season for the City College women’s basketball team came to a bitter end on March 13 in Thousand Oaks as the Rams fell 60-56 to Ventura College in front of a sold-out Gilbert Arena.

It was virtually a home game for the Ventura Pirates, who play merely 20 miles from California Lutheran University, and their raucous, orange-clad fans filled almost the entire gym.

Still, the Rams were able to go neck and neck with Ventura, and they nearly mounted a late second half comeback and victory.

“I thought the crowd was great,” Rams head coach Jamie Hayes said following the game. “We went into the game knowing what we needed to do. Shooting 25 percent hurt us much more than the crowd.”

Poor shooting, along with 18 missed free throws were ultimately the Rams’ downfall. Still, sophomore guards Brittney Allen and Marlee Rice put up a spirited effort in their last game wearing a Rams uniform.

“We all wanted this game so badly,” Allen said. “In the end, we just hurt ourselves though, and that’s why we lost.” She finished with 25 points against Ventura, to lead all scorers.

Allen, along with Rice, a transfer this season from San Francisco State University, and all-tournament sophomore Mone Peoples, anchored one of the most stellar back courts in the state.

“I accomplished more in one year then I did playing my whole life,” Rice said. “I absolutely loved playing here, alongside my two all-state guards.”

The Rams cruised into the state semifinals with three straight playoff victories, starting with two home victories over American River and Ohlone at home.

City College was then able to exact revenge on last year’s defending state champions Pasadena with a 75-58 victory on March 11, in the opening game at Gilbert Arena.

Falling behind early to Ventura 19-5, the Rams mounted a 15-3 run, to come within two of the Pirates.

City College was unable to capture the lead, trailing trailed 29-23 at halftime.

Ventura guard Chanelle Brennan led the way for the Pirates, finishing with 23 points. She was named Tournament MVP.

In the second half, the Rams would whittle away at Ventura’s lead slowly but surely. Led by Allen and Rice, they took a 53-52 lead with under four minutes to go in the game.

“Knowing this could be our last game kept us going strong until the end no matter what the score was,” Rice said.

The teams exchanged leads four times in the next three minutes, but Ventura was ultimately able to ice the game at the line, ending the most successful season in the program’s history“

We had a great season, going into the tournament and making it to the final four for the first time for our program,” Hayes said. “I am extremely proud of our young women and the effort that they have put forward on the court.”