A strong defense allows you to win without scoring a field goal in the last five minutes of a game.

For the second consecutive game, the Cerritos women’s basketball team held off a second-half rally to beat Chaffey College, 58-54 Saturday at the Aviary.

Guard Jennifer Decuir led the Falcons (13-4) with 16 points, including two three-point baskets, and recorded five steals.

Forward Antares Vice and guard Marci Wong scored 10 points apiece.

The Panthers (7-9) were led by DeAndrea Brooks with 11 points and LaShone Caldwell with 10.

After Cerritos took a 48-30 lead, Chaffey got back into the game with nine unanswered points.

Baskets by Eterei Wong and Chrystal Johnson put Cerritos ahead 54-40 with 5:24 left.

But Chaffey would answer by outscoring the Falcons, 7-2, in the next three and one-half minutes.

Cerritos relied on free throws the rest of the way, and took a 58-49 lead on a free throw by forward Chrystal Johnson with 21.2 seconds remaining in the game.

Chaffey scored on a basket by guard Ebonie Marshall and a three-pointer at the buzzer by Brooks for the final score.

Marci Wong said the team needs to “play agressive the whole time.”

She added that the players have been working hard on defense, but “we were practicing so hard, we forget everything” during the game, but “We’ll be ready” for South Coast Conference play in January.

The Falcons’ next game will be Jan. 4 at home against L.A. Trade Tech at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s basketball game at 7:30 p.m.

SCORING:

CHAFFEY: Marshall 8 (8 rebounds, 6 assists), Mendez 2, Brooks 11 (8 rebounds), Tamparong 2, Joyner 3, Lopez 9, Willis 0, Owens 9 (11 rebounds), Caldwell 10.

CERRITOS: M. Wong 10, Decuir 16, Contreras 0, McCarthy 2, Osongco 3, Vice 10 (11 rebounds, 5 assists), Johnson 8 (5 rebounds 4 blocks), Rivera 2, E. Wong 2 (7 rebounds), Amete 5.