Hosting Los Angeles Harbor College for the first of two straight games, the Cerritos College women's basketball team recorded a 65-53 South Coast Conference South Division win on Friday. The Falcons (12-13, 4-2), who sit in second place in the South Division, will take on the same Seahawks (15-10, 1-5) team at 5:00 p.m. next Friday.

It was a close back and forth game into the third quarter until Cerritos went on a run to open a 52-41 lead heading into the final quarter. It was a 34-31 Falcons lead earlier in the quarter until sophomore Cynthia Almanzar (John Glenn HS) drained a three-pointer with 6:06 left in the third stanza. The lead was just 46-41 in the final 2:10 of the quarter until the Falcons closed it out with six straight points, which included a three-pointer from freshman Denise Cortez (Norwalk HS).

The 11-point lead became 13 points (54-41) after freshman Melana Goodloe (Warren HS) scored on a backdoor layup and then matched the same play on the team's next possession. Freshman Damarie Saldivar (Paramount HS) completed a three-point play with 6:33 left in the game to give the Falcons a 59-46 advantage. Free throws from sophomore Ashley Miller (Paramount HS) and freshman Bridgette McIntyre (St. Anthony HS) swelled the lead to the largest of the game (63-48) with Cerritos closing out the game for the win.

McIntyre led all scorers with 20 points and added six rebounds, with Miller producing 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Brianna Flores (Norwalk HS) pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out three assists, with the bench combining for 19 points and 15 rebounds.

Photos by Daryl Peterson