The Cerritos College women's
basketball team saw their season
come to an end when they were
defeated by Foothill College,
69-49 in the quarterfinals of
the California Community College
Athletic Association state
championships, held at the
University of the Pacific on
Thursday afternoon. The Falcons,
who also had their 12-game
winning streak snapped, end
their season with a 26-9 record
after advancing to the Elite
Eight for the first time since
the 2002 season.
From the outset, Cerritos
appeared to have the jitters, as
they committed 18 first-half
turnovers and trailed 32-22 at
intermission. Despite being down
by as many as 14 points in both
halves, the Falcons did make an
effort to get themselves back
into the game. With the minutes
slipping away in the second
half, Cerritos reduced their
deficit to eight points (53-45)
with 6:24 remaining after
sophomore guard
Tiffany Wilson (Mayfair
HS) netted a free throw.
But, with 3:08 remaining,
Foothill's Jessica Montgomery
put the Owls up 59-47 on a
three-pointer. Prior to the
trey, the Falcons missed out on
three possessions to get as
close as they had since early in
the game.
Sophomore forward
Genesis Lewis (Paramount
HS) kept the Falcons close
in the first half and concluded
with a game-high 16 points and
10 rebounds, while the duo of
Wilson and freshman guard
Arielle McClellan (Paramount
HS) each added nine points.
McClellan also contributed eight
rebounds and four assists, while
Wilson chipped in with eight
rebounds. Sophomore forward
Maltresa
Neely (Downey
HS) was double-teamed
almost every time she touched
the ball and was limited to
seven points and seven rebounds,
with freshman forward
Mercedes Taylor (Gahr
HS) scoring seven points
and seven assists.
Foothill's Jasmine Lowe led the
way for the Owls with 15 points,
10 rebounds, four assists and
four steals, while the duo of
Claudia Nelson and Marshall each
chipped in with 10 points. The
Owls utilized a trio of players
who stood over six-feet tall and
out-rebounded the Falcons,
53-49.
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