Sophomore forward Angela Peña and the rest of the Cerritos College women’s basketball team are bracing themselves for an uphill battle in the final games of the season. This after a sluggish run has forced the team to drop four of its last six games.

Defense and composure are two of the main things on Peña’s mind heading into Wednesday’s game versus East Los Angeles College.

Cerritos College was victorious 61-56 in overtime on Jan. 11 at a game played on a neutral site at Cal Poly Pomona.

“I’m expecting that it’s going to be a good game, as long as we keep up our defense I think we’ll be able to beat them,” she stated.

Starting point guard Marissa Rendon feels most of the team’s preparations and issues have been addressed as of Monday, and is comfortable behind the coaching staff in regard to leadership moving forward.

“We know what to expect (against East Los Angeles),” Rendon assured.

“I think our coaches are very well prepared, and they help us get prepared by going through plays.”

Head coach Karen Welliver has seen free throw shooting as a key issue thus far in the season, and has made certain that the roster gets plenty of shooting practice from behind the line to keep the team’s free throw percentage going up.

“We had a slow start with our free throws this season, at 47 percent as a team, which is pretty bad,” Rendon explained.

Freshman Alexsis McCowan added, “They have (been a problem), but we have been progressing little-by-little.

“We just have to stay focused, keep our follow-through on the line, and encourage each other a little more.”

Freshman point guard Priscilla Valdovinos has high hopes for the final few games of the season saying that, “I hope we finish (the games) out like we did at the beginning of the season. I think if we just stay focused we can do really well.”

Both Rendon and Valdovinos have no problem looking forward to next season already, as Valdovinos knows both she and her fellow freshmen have big shoes to fill once this season comes to a close.

“We have a good group of (freshmen) girls and we know what to expect next season, plus the sophomores have been teaching us really well, so I think we will be fine.”

Rendon added, “It’s not really about winning at the end of the day… just as long as my teammates get something out of it for next year, since there are so many young players.

“I hope they find composure… I’m comfortable with what (the sophomores) have done with the freshman, and I can’t wait to come back next year and see them in action.”

The Falcon sophomores still have time to lead their squad above it’s current 3-4 away record, and will put that plan into motion Wednesday, Feb. 13 starting at 6 p.m. at East Los Angeles College.