Draining one three-pointer after another, Cerritos College sophomore Serena Rendon (Carson HS) scored 27 first half points in the team's 87-39 South Coast Conference South Division win over visiting Compton College on Wednesday. Rendon, who didn't play the fourth quarter, hit seven first-half three pointers and finished the night with 31 points, with both numbers tying career highs. The win by the Falcons improved their record to 13-10 overall and 2-1 in divisional play. They are scheduled to travel to Los Angeles Southwest College for a 7:00 p.m. divisional game on Friday.

Rendon had more than double the points of the Lady Tartars (1-14, 0-2) by halftime, as the Falcons led 51-13. She converted all four of her three-pointers in the first quarter, including a pair in the final minute of the stanza. Continuing her hot hand in the second quarter, Rendon drained her fifth straight three-pointer and then added a short jumper to help the team open a 26-9 advantage.

With four players not in uniform on the night, it allowed other players to get extended minutes. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, freshman Sarah Hernandez (St. Paul HS) scored a season-high 10 points and shared the team lead with nine rebounds in 22 minutes of action. Freshman Renisha Billups (Warren HS) posted seven points and five rebounds off the bench.

But there was no stopping Rendon, who finished 11-of-14 from the field, which included going 7-of-9 from three-point range. Twin sister Jesenia Rendon (Carson HS) recorded 19 points and a pair of three-pointers, with sophomore Lynette Garcia (Downey HS/Park, MO University) posting eight points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Falcons.

Photos by Daryl Peterson