Knowing a win over visiting El Camino College on Friday night would put them in a tie for first place with one game remaining, the Cerritos College women's basketball team came up short in a 65-60 decision. The Falcons (18-11, 5-2) watched the Warriors (19-8, 7-0) convert 20-of-21 free throws in the second half to help secure the South Coast Conference South Division title. Cerritos finishes up their regular season on Wednesday with a 7:00 p.m. game at Long Beach City College and will then wait for their playoff seeding.

The Falcons trailed the entire game until freshman Crystal Lomax (Lynwood HS) converted a three-point play for a 42-40 lead with 8:23 remaining in the second half. A pair of free throws from freshman Clarissa Hernandez (St. Paul HS) with 6:08 would give Cerritos their final lead of the night at 46-44.

El Camino's Nisja Bass and Sydney Chase each hit consecutive three-pointers to put the score at 50-46 with 4:42 left. Aside from a three-pointer by Michelle Sroczynski, the Warriors scored their final 12 points from the free throw line.

Cerritos did get to within three points (59-56) after sophomore Selena Romero (Lakewood HS) hit a three-pointer from the top of the key. But the team missed their final two shots of the game. Also missing was freshman Aissha Baldwin (Mayfair HS), who played in foul trouble the entire game. Saddled with her fourth foul with 11:23 remaining in the second half and trailing 38-34, she re-entered with just under 6:00 minutes left.

Baldwin (10 points, five rebounds) was able to get one rebound before fouling out with 3:49 left and the team down by just one point (50-49). Picking up the slack in the absence of Baldwin were Lomax (five points, five rebounds) and freshman Sydney Lopez (Whittier Christian HS), who added eight points and six rebounds.

El Camino received double-digit scoring from four players and converted seven three-pointers. Chase (13 points) and Bass (13 points) led them offensively, while Shontalene Trudeau posted 10 points and 10 rebounds. Romero led the Falcons with 11 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore Michelle Navarro (Warren HS) added five points and six assists.