Jennifer Decuir led the Falcons with 19 points as the Cerritos women’s basketball team defeated San Diego Mesa College, 60-49, Friday in the first round of the Coast Christmas Classic at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

The next game for the Falcons (9-3) will be Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against Saddleback, who survived a late rally to hold back Chaffey, 51-48.

Antares Vice scored eight points for Cerritos, while Chrystal Johnson, Nicole McCarthy and Eterei Wong scored six points each.

Wong also grabbed nine rebounds, including seven in the second half as the Falcons pulled away with the game.

Guard Emily Osongco, who finished with 10 points, sank a three-point basket to give the Falcons a 26-25 lead at halftime.

Cerritos began the second half with a 10-3 run to lead 36-28, but the Olympians came back and tied the game at 41 with 8:49 remaining.

After Mesa cut the Falcons’ lead to two at 44-42, Cerritos clamped down with strong defense.

The Falcons held the Olympians scoreless for the next three minutes and increased their lead to 51-42 on free throws.

Mesa would score one field goal after that, as Cerritos pulled away at the end with more free throws.

Forward Natasha Combs led Mesa with 14 points, and center Elisabeth Reynolds added 10.

SCORING:

San Diego Mesa–Costa 0, Spence 0, Tessier 8, Schiele 7, McGovern 0, Walker 2, Combs 14, Bachmann 3, Anderson 0, Shiraishi 0, Reynolds 10, Wynne 5.

Cerritos–M. Wong 5, Decuir 19, Rucker 0, Contreras 0, McCarthy 6, Osongco 10, Vice 8, Johnson 6, Rivera 0, E. Wong 6, Amete 2.