With a chance at a post-season bid very slim with a win on Friday night against Long Beach City College, the Cerritos College women's basketball team came up short in a 68-59 score. Although the Falcons finished in second place in the South Coast Conference South Division with a 6-2 record, their 11-15 overall record is what will keep the team from extending their season.

One of the major pitfalls against the division champion Vikings (17-9, 8-0) were the 25 turnovers that plagued the Falcons. After a difficult third quarter where they turned the ball over 10 times, Cerritos compounded their problems with seven more in the fourth quarter.

The Falcons did a great job for the first 18 minutes of the game and went on an 8-0 run to turn a 7-7 game into a 15-7 lead, with sophomore Damarie Saldivar (Paramount HS) scoring four of those points. Taking an 18-14 lead into the second quarter, Cerritos received a jumper from sophomore Melana Goodloe (Warren HS), followed by a three-pointer from freshman Rayne Rodriguez (La Serna HS) to extend their lead to 28-19 with 1:53 left in the half. LB City did score the final six points to end the half and then opened the second half on a 7-0 run.

Once the Vikings took a 33-32 lead in the third quarter, they did not relinquish the lead the remainder of the game. In addition to Cerritos turning the ball over, Long Beach City used second and third offensive chances to take the lead. They finished the game with 58 rebounds, with 29 of them on the offensive end. LBCC's Chioma Okenwa pulled down 12 offensive rebounds and led them with 23 boards.

Each time Cerritos made a move to get close to regaining the lead, the Vikings had an answer. It was as close as a four-point game twice in the second half, but the Falcons could not get any closer.

Goodloe led the team with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shot, while Saldivar (five rebounds, five assists, two steals) and Rodriguez (five rebounds) each produced 12 points. Rodriguez accounted for all three of the team's three-pointers.