In their first 15 games of the season, the Cerritos College women's basketball team has played only two of them at home. On Friday in their non-conference game at Orange Coast College, the Falcons (7-8) were taking on a team that was playing just their first home game of the season. With a 63-52 win over the Pirates (2-11), Cerritos has now won two games in a row. They will travel to Pasadena City College next Friday for a 6:00 p.m. South Coast Conference crossover game.
Taking on an Orange Coast team that has just five players, the Falcons were able to wear down their opponents and come away with the win. Trailing 13-10 in the first quarter, freshman Precious Yerena (Downey HS) drained a three-pointer to tie the game, while sophomore Kayla Sta. Ana (St. Joseph HS) knocked down one of her own in the final second to take a 16-13 lead. After Orange Coast tied the game starting the second quarter, freshman Therese Zekajj (Legacy HS) scored on a layup, followed by a three-pointer from freshman Melanie Lopez (Legacy HS).
On the team's next possession, Lopez drained another three-pointer, and for good measure, made it three in a row with 6:11 left in the first half for a 27-21 lead.
In the second half, a free throw from freshman Nicole Lizarraga (Cantwell Sacred Heart HS) and a jumper from Yerena increased the team's lead to 39-31 with 3:27 left in the quarter. Holding an eight-point lead, Lopez knocked down yet another long range jumper to give the team their largest lead of the night, 45-34, which would end up being a 17-point advantage in the fourth quarter. They would increase that lead to 52-37 with 6:29 remaining after a pair of Lizarraga free throws, followed by a three-pointer from sophomore Mariah Lora (Warren HS).
On the night, the Falcons hit on 10 three-pointers, with Lopez leading the way by converting 6-of-10 for a season-high 18 points, with Lizarraga contributing 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Sarah Hernandez (St. Paul HS) accounted for nine points and five rebounds, with Yerena producing seven points. Freshman Jordan Lewis (Downey HS) also pulled down seven rebounds.