W. Basketball: Falcons drop 50-43 decision to SD Mesa

File Photo: Ashley Miller posted 16 points for the Falcons
File Photo: Ashley Miller posted 16 points for the Falcons

Coming into the fourth quarter trailing by seven points (36-29), the Cerritos College women's basketball team drew to within a point against host San Diego Mesa College after three-pointers from sophomores Cynthia Almanzar (John Glenn HS) and Ashley Miller (Paramount HS) with 7:49 left. However, it would be 3:20 before they would score again, as the Olympians started to pull away and recorded a 50-43 win over the Falcons (5-7) on Friday.

Cerritos was slated to host San Bernardino Valley College next Tuesday, but that game has been canceled, with the Falcons not playing again until December 16 when they begin the Fullerton Tournament.

A pair of free throws from Miller did bring the Falcons back to a three-point deficit (42-39) and were still in position to pull out a win. A layup by Almanzar with :50 seconds left made it a 44-41 game, but the Olympians converted four of their final six free throws to shut down Cerritos.

Miller, who connected on 7-of-10 free throws in the game, led the team with 16 points and added six rebounds, with Almanzar contributing 10 points and six rebounds off the bench. The duo of sophomore Brianna Flores (Norwalk HS) and freshman Akayla Burton (El Segundo HS) combined for 12 rebounds, but were still outrebounded in the game, 47-35.