With an opportunity to upset crosstown rival Long Beach City College on Wednesday, the Cerritos College women's basketball team suffered a 67-64 South Coast Conference South Division loss. The Falcons (9-16, 2-5) have three games left in their season and will host El Camino College at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Cerritos led 49-44 after a slow start. The lead swelled to 51-44 after a layup from freshman Jordan Lewis (Downey HS), with the lead staying at seven points (53-46) with 8:5 left on the clock. However, with 5:18 left, the Vikings Isabel Lizarraga converted a three-point play to put LBCC in the lead. The Falcons regained the lead on a Therese Zekajj (Legacy HS) jumper with 2:18 left in regulation.

Trailing 65-61 in the final seconds, sophomore Sarah Hernandez (St. Paul HS) drained a three-pointer to get to within a point. The Falcons were forced to foul and Lizarraga converted both free throws. Hernandez got off one final three-pointer, but it was off line and Cerritos suffered their fourth loss by three points or less in divisional play.

Long Beach opened up a 25-12 lead after the first 10 minutes, before the Falcons regrouped and limited the Vikings to just four second quarter points for a 29-29 tie at halftime.

Lewis led the team with 12 points and added five rebounds, with freshman Nicole Lizarraga (Cantwell Sacred Heart HS) posting 11 points and Precious Yerena (Downey HS) finishing with 10 points. Sophomore point guard Mariah Lora (Warren HS) accounted for nine points, five assists and three steals, with Zekajj adding eight points off the bench.

Long Beach City out-rebounded the Falcons, 49-25, with two players accounting for 30 Viking rebounds off the bench.

Photos by Daryl Peterson