With visiting Orange Coast College breathing down their neck, the Cerritos College women's basketball team settled down in the final minutes and recorded a 63-57 win on Wednesday night. The Falcons (7-4), who led by as many as 21 points in the first half (40-19), found themselves locked in a 54-54 tie with 2:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.

It would take 1:28 before anyone else would score, which is when freshman Ashley Miller (Paramount HS) scored and was fouled. She converted the three-point play, giving Cerritos a 57-54 advantage with 1:16 remaining. The Pirates leading scorer, Alexis Legan responded with a basket, and after sophomore Precious Yerena (Downey HS) converted her second free throw, the Pirates (7-4) called timeout. A quick foul put Yerena back at the line and she netted both free throws for a 60-56 lead.

Pulling down a rebounds on a Legan (26 points) missed three-pointer, sophomore Therese Zekajj (Legacy HS) went to the free throw line and was good on both for a 62-56 advantage with :36 seconds left. Two more missed shots and a turnover rounded out the game for Orange Coast and the Falcons came away with a tough win.

Zekajj led the Falcons with 16 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, while freshman Ilani Avila (Downey HS) posted 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals before fouling out. Miller came off the bench in the second half and contributed nine points, while freshman Izabella Apodaca (La Serna HS) finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

Cerritos will travel to Chaffey College on Friday for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference game.

Photos by Daryl Peterson