Competing in their first action since December 19, the Cerritos College women's basketball team didn't know they would be playing until the day prior. With their scheduled home game on Friday against Pasadena City College postponed due to Covid protocols, the Falcons were able to lock down a non-conference game at El Camino College. The two South Coast Conference South Division schools were each looking for opponents, and decided to play each other in a non-conference game.

The Falcons (9-6) opened a 16-8 lead after the first quarter and never trailed the remainder of the game, as they turned in a 64-53 win over the host Warriors. The two teams will still face each other twice during divisional play.

Cerritos scored the first six points of the game, and in the final seconds of the first quarter, received a jumper from freshman Brianna Flores (Norwalk HS), while freshman Ilani Avila (Downey HS) followed with a three-pointer with :19 seconds left to help the team open their lead. 

El Camino (5-8) did tie the game at 18-18 in the first quarter, but Avila converted a layup and then knocked down a three-pointer for a 23-18 advantage. The Warriors went scoreless for 2:10 to help Cerritos regain the lead, and when freshman Ashley Miller (Paramount HS) converted a three-point play, the Falcons were holding a 26-19 lead with 3:32 remaining in the first half.

At the early stages of the second half, the Warriors once again closed to within two points (45-43), but Cerritos was able to put together a 9-1 run for a 54-44 lead, with Avila accounting for four points and Flores adding a three-pointer.

Even in the waning minutes, it was another late run that Cerritos was able to hold off to lock down the win. Leading 58-48 with 4:07 left, the Falcons went over three minutes before scoring, with El Camino trimming the Cerritos lead to 58-53 with 2:00 left. Freshman Cynthia Estrada (John Glenn HS) ended the dry spell for the Falcons on a layup with :57 seconds left, while Flores pulled down a missed shot and netted a pair of free throws with :26 seconds left to increase the lead once again to nine points (62-53).

Avila led all scorers with 27 points, while also adding seven rebounds, six steals and five assists, with Flores contributing 15 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Therese Zekajj (Legacy HS) pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Falcons, with Miller producing nine points and five rebounds off the bench.

The Falcons will return to El Camino College next Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. game against Mt. San Antonio College as part of the El Camino Crossover Challenge.