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Heading into South
Coast Conference South Division play, the Cerritos
College women's basketball team was looking to make
a quick impact, as they also looked to defend their
title. However, Los Angeles Southwest College
stepped in an put a halt to that, as they registered
a 66-61 win over the Falcons on Friday night. The
loss was the third in a row for Cerritos (12-11
overall, 1-0 South Division), while the Cougars are
now 6-14 on the year and 1-0 in divisional play. The
Falcons will look to snap their three-game skid when
they host El Camino College at 5:30 p.m. on
Wednesday.
Trailing by either
one or two points in the final eight minutes of the
game, Cerritos had six different opportunities to
either tie the game or take the lead. Four of those
possessions resulted in turnovers, while the other
two finished with the team missing free throws. By
comparison, the Cougars scored their final five
points from the free throw line, even though they
had difficulty making baskets. The Falcons also
committed 25 turnovers, and were only 15-of-28 from
the free throw line.
Cerritos led by
seven points (38-31) with 17:33 left in the second
half. But, over the next 12:37, LASW went on a 21-2
run to go up, 52-40, capped by a three-pointer by
Brandi Bradford. The Falcons did get to 56-55 with
5:13 after sophomore guard
Cecily
Garcia (St. Joseph HS) made
one of two free throws.
On the night,
sophomore guard
Rachel
Butler (Calvary Chapel HS) led
the team with 15 points and also contributed six
rebounds and three assists. As for sophomore forward
Mercedes Taylor (Gahr HS) and
freshman forward
Vannesa
Faagata (Paramount HS), they
each scored 13 points, while Taylor added 11
rebounds, four steals and three assists. Faagata
also pulled down seven rebounds and posted three
steals. Freshman guard
Maleta
Daughtery (Redondo HS) chipped
in with 12 points and five rebounds.
The Cougars had
four players scored in double-figures, led by
Bradford's 16 points and seven rebounds. The Falcons
also outrebounded LASW, 45-49.
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