Trailing by three points heading into the fourth quarter, the Cerritos College women's basketball team shot 67% in the final 10 minutes to post an 81-72 South Coast Conference South Division win over rival Long Beach City College on Wednesday night. The win by the Falcons (12-9, 1-0) was their second in the last three games after snapping a three-game losing streak. The team will host El Camino College at 7:00 p.m. on Friday in another divisional game.
In converting eight of their 12 field goals in the fourth quarter, five of them were from three-point range, as sophomore Jessica Gomez (Legacy HS) scored 13 points and converted a pair of three-pointers. Sophomore Serena Rendon (Carson HS) opened the quarter by hitting a three-pointer to tie the game at 58-58, with Gomez connecting on her next two shots from long range to give the team a 9-0 run to start the final stanza.
It became a 69-60 Falcons lead with 6:35 left on the clock after sophomore Lynette Garcia (Downey HS/Park (MO) University) hit her own three-point shot. After the Vikings (7-12, 0-1) pulled to within 69-64 with 5:07 remaining, the Cerritos defense kept them off the board for the next two minutes. Freshman Sarah Hernandez (St. Paul HS) became the fourth player to drain a three-pointer in the quarter, as her basket made it a 75-66 contest with 2:41 remaining.
Gomez (15 points, four rebounds) netted three of her final four free throws in the last :33 seconds to secure the win. Rendon posted a double-double with her 22 points (10-for-10 free throws) and 10 rebounds, with Garcia (4-of-6 three-pointers) adding 14 points and three rebounds. Sophomore Jesenia Rendon (Carson HS) posted 12 points and five rebounds, while Hernandez had 10 points. Freshman Mariah Lora (Warren HS) came in off the bench to dish out a team-high seven assists.
March 2, 2019
W. Basketball: Top-seeded Moorpark too much for Falcons
February 27, 2019
W. Basketball: Outside shooting leads Falcons to playoff win
February 26, 2019
W. Basketball: Jesenia Rendon voted division's Player of the Year
February 25, 2019
W. Basketball: Cerritos seeded #16 for playoffs
February 22, 2019
W. Basketball: Win clinches share of conference title
February 20, 2019
W. Basketball: Cerritos posts seventh win in a row
February 8, 2019
W. Basketball: Falcons pull away from Vikings, 74-55
February 7, 2019
W. Basketball: Gillian Yamasaki earns Academic All-State honors
February 6, 2019
W. Basketball: Third straight big win for the Falcons
February 1, 2019
W. Basketball: Big win keeps Falcons in second place in division
January 30, 2019
W. Basketball: Serena Rendon lights up the scoreboard for 31 points
January 25, 2019
W. Basketball: Late-game scoring troubles hurt Falcons in loss
January 23, 2019
W. Basketball: Fourth quarter shooting leads Falcons to win
January 11, 2019
W. Basketball: Falcons unable to hold off West LA
January 9, 2019
W. Basketball: Jesenia Rendon scores 31 in Falcons win
January 4, 2019
W. Basketball: Loss to state power third in a row
December 19, 2018
W. Basketball: Cerritos wins consolation championship
November 18, 2018
W. Basketball: Third place finish at SD City Tournament for the Falcons
November 11, 2018
W. Basketball: Opening tournament nets third place finish