In their second tournament of the season, the Cerritos College women's basketball team suffered losses in all three games in the Toys for Tots Tournament at Allan Hancock College. Taking on the host Bulldogs in the first game, the Falcons were defeated, 60-48 and then suffered defeats at the hands of Fresno City College (98-47) and Folsom Lake College (76-27).

Cerritos (2-7) returns home to host Los Angeles Pierce College at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

CERRITOS VS. ALLAN HANCOCK: Trailing by just one point (40-39) heading into the fourth quarter, the Falcons converted just 3-of-17 shots, while the Bulldogs were good on 8-of-17 shots to pull away for the win. The teams traded the lead in the first half multiple times, with Allan Hancock opening up a 32-25 advantage at halftime. After tying the game at 25-25 with 3:12 left in the half, Cerritos did not score the remainder of the second quarter. Down by nine points early in the third quarter, freshman Francine Carrillo (Cerritos HS) got the team back on the board with a layup. 

Down by as many as 12 points (37-29), the Falcons slowly started to make a comeback, and were aided by a three-pointer from freshman Brianna Charles (El Rancho HS), while sophomore Damarie Saldivar (Paramount HS) scored four points. With 1:40 left in the third quarter, a bucket by Rayne Rodriguez (La Serna HS) tied the game at 39-39. Hancock added a free throw before the end of the quarter and then scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter to pull away and secure the win.

 

Sophomore Melana Goodloe (Warren HS) led the team with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Saldivar finished with 11 points and four assists. Rodriguez posted nine points and six rebounds, while Carrillo pulling down five board to go with her two points.

 

CERRITOS VS. FRESNO CITY: Early in the game, the Falcons opened an 8-7 lead, with Saldivar accounting for five of the points. However, the Rams kept Cerritos off the scoreboard for three straight minutes, which allowed them to take a 14-8 advantage. Shooting struggles followed the Falcons through the remainder of the first half, as they shot a combined 11-for-26, while Fresno City connected on 50% of their shots to take a 56-28 lead at intermission.

Cerritos had no answer for Fresno City's Corin Camara, who drained eight three-pointers, while the team had 17 in the game. By contrast, the Falcons netted just one of their 13 attempts.

 

Saldivar led the team with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Carrillo added nine points and seven rebounds off the bench. Goodloe was limited to just two points, but pulled down eight rebounds.

 

CERRITOS VS. FOLSOM LAKE: Hurt by the outside shot of their opponents, the Falcons struggled to string points together, while Folsom found their shot early on. Cerritos did convert three of their first six shots, but hit a slump that found them falling behind more as the game progressed.

Carrillo led the team with seven points and added five rebounds, while Saldivar (six points) and sophomore Miah Nayback (La Serna HS) matched the rebound total.

Photos courtesy of Allan Hancock College