After a close three-point loss to Grossmont College in the opening game of the Santa Barbara Tournament, the Cerritos College women's basketball team rebounded to win their next two games to capture the consolation championship. The Falcons (4-2) dropped a close 56-53 decision to the Griffins, but came back the next two days to defeat Riverside College (84-61) and San Diego Mesa College, 72-60. Last week, the Olympians handed Cerritos a 57-41 loss in the finals of the San Diego Mesa Tournament. After taking the next week off, the team will enter the 16-team College of the Sequoias Tournament and open with Porterville College at 2:00 p.m. on December 1.

 

    In the consolation championship game, sophomore Andrina Rendon (St. Paul HS) led all scorers with 22 points, which included converting 7-of-8 free throws and pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. The Falcons pulled out to an early lead against the Olympians (4-2) and also received 13 points and five rebounds from sophomore Regina English (Bellflower HS). Freshman Marissa Rendon (St. Paul HS) contributed eight points and three assists off the bench, while freshman Talor Hixon (St. Anthony HS) added nine points in the win.

 

    It was Andrina Rendon, who was named to the All-Tournament team, that led the way in the win over Riverside, as she scored a game-high 17 points and added 12 rebounds in the 23-point win. English netted all six of her shots to contribute 15 points, with Hixon dishing out a season-high nine assists, along with six points and five rebounds. Sophomore Armelia Patterson (Long Beach Millikan HS) finished with 10 points, while Marissa Rendon came off the bench to finish with 10 points and five assists. Sophomore Dershawna Staves (Bellflower HS) pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked three shots, while the duo of freshman Aljinee Brunson (Lakewood HS) and Angela Pena (Huntington Park College Ready Academy HS) each scored nine points.

 

    After leading in the first half against Grossmont in the opening game, the Falcons were unable to hold off the Griffins, who received 19 points from Ashleigh King. Marissa Rendon hit a three-pointer to get the team to within a three-point margin, but could get any closer. Staves led the team with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Andrina Rendon (nine points, nine rebounds) Pena (eight points) and Patterson, who had seven points and nine rebounds, also played well. Freshman Deenesha Bee (Pioneer HS) came off the bench to score seven points and pull down eight rebounds.