DAY 3 COLLEEN RILEY CROSSOVER: FC PICKS UP THE WIN VS. CERRITOS

Wrapping up the 45th Colleen Riley Crossover on Saturday, the No. 20 Hornets worked in their 12th win of the season squeaking past a scrappy Cerritos squad 66-61.

Fullerton's win bumps the team to a 12-2 overall record, while the Cerritos loss put the Falcons at 5-8 overall with a 2-1 record in the Colleen Riley Holiday Crossover after beating solid teams in Porterville and No. 22 Citrus. 

The Hornets came out of the gates firing with a 13-4 run that was led by Kaylee Shimoda's 2 three-pointers and a deep two. A bucket by Katelyn Glumace ended the first quarter as FC held an 18-9 lead. The wheels fell off for Fullerton in the second quarter as Cerritos came flying back into the game after a 16-7 Falcon run to tie the game up 25-25 with over a minute left before the half. By the break, the score was still knotted up at 27.

The third quarter was an all-out war as both teams battled for position matching one another shot for shot. A successful pair of free throws by Amya Iannone tied the game up at 44-44 to end the quarter. The battle continued deep into the fourth, until Xochitl Hood broke through with back-to-back shots that gave the Hornets some breathing room at 55-50 at the 3-minute mark. Jimena Solorio hit a jumper with just over a minute left in the game lifting Fullerton up 58-52, but the Falcons did not fold pulling within one possession at 64-61 on Lauryn Nakamura's jumper. The game was put on ice thanks to two made free throws by Kaylee Shimoda as Fullerton escaped with the win. 

Shimoda led the way for the Hornets with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Amya Iannone followed with 15 points and 9 boards. Hailey Lakey added 12 points with 8 boards, and Xochitl Hood dropped in 11 points, had 6 rebounds, with 7 assists. Jimena Solorio scored 8 points had 2 steals.

DAY ONE SCORES
Game 1: No. 22 Citrus (8-3 overall) def. No. 23 Santa Barbara City (9-3 overall) 63-52
Game 2: Cerritos (4-7 overall) def. Porterville (5-7 overall) 71-60
Game 3: No. 20 Fullerton (11-1 overall) def. Imperial Valley (6-5 overall) 73-46

DAY TWO SCORES
Game 4: Cerritos (5-7) def. No. 22 Citrus (8-4 overall) 58-54
Game 5: Imperial Valley (7-5 overall) def. Porterville (5-8 overall) 68-60
Game 6: No. 23 Santa Barbara City (10-3 overall) def. No. 20 Fullerton (11-2 overall) 67-56

DAY THREE SCORES
Game 7: Imperial Valley (8-5 overall) def. Citrus (8-5 overall) 51-40
Game 8: No. 23 Santa Barbara City (11-3 overall) def. Porterville (5-9 overall) 96-65
Game 9: No. 20 Fullerton (12-2 overall) def. Cerritos (5-8 overall) 66-61

Up Next: The No. 20 Hornets (12-2 overall) will take some time off for the Christmas break and get back to it on Monday, December 30th when they hit the road against No. 10 San Diego Mesa College (9-3 overall). Tipoff is at 5:00 pm.

*Photo by Matt Brown