Stovall Leads Woodbridge Past Ventura Buena, 63-50

Junior guard Erin Stovall had 33 points and nine steals to help Woodbridge defeat previously unbeaten Ventura Buena, 63-50, Saturday night in front of an overflow crowd of about 1,700 at Buena High.

Buena’s answer to Stovall’s quickness was supposed to be Eboni Conley, but the senior guard was sidelined by an knee injury Thursday.

Without Conley’s ballhandling and defense, Buena watched in astonishment in the first half as Stovall racked up 18 points and five steals to help Woodbridge to a 35-26 lead.

“[Stovall] is absolutely amazing,” Buena center Nicole Greathouse said. “I couldn’t believe how quick she is.

Woodbridge (22-2) and Buena (21-1) entered the game ranked No. 7 and 8 in the USA Today national poll.

Woodbridge senior forward Melanie Pearson had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Greathouse, a 6-1 junior center, had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Buena.

Woodbridge led 27-26 with four minutes to play in the first half, but a 10-foot basket by Stovall followed by consecutive baskets by teammates Pearson, Tami Weaver and Nicole Roberts gave the Warriors a nine-point lead at the break. Woodbridge extended the lead to 52-36 early in the fourth quarter.