W. Basketball: Two sophomores sign scholarships

Nia Lateju has signed with William Wood (MO) University

Posted: Jun 18, 2014

A pair of Cerritos College women's basketball players have signed letters of intent with four-year colleges. Forward Nia Lateju has signed with William Wood (MO) University, an NAIA school, while forward Alii Salone will be going to school at Graceland (IA) University, another NAIA school. Salone follows Maleta Daughtery and Adria Jackson, who signed with the YellowJackets after the 2010 season.

Lateju and Salone were both named 1st Team All-South Coast Conference for the Falcons as sophomores, who finished the season with a 16-12 record after advancing to the Southern California Regional Playoffs. Lateju shared the team lead in scoring at 11.6 points per game, while she was second on the team with 7.5 rebounds per game. An injury in the final regular season game prevented her from appearing in the playoffs. Lateju scored a season-high 23 points against Los Angeles Harbor College and posted double-digit scoring in 17 games and six double-doubles on the year.

Alii Salone has signed with Graceland (IA) University She will be joining an Owls team that went 22-11 on the year and lost in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament. It marked the sixth year in a row the team won 20 games and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament. The team graduates four seniors and have an experienced team next year with six seniors and seven juniors.

As for Salone (pictured left), she averaged 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds a game, both of which were third most on the team. She started all 28 games for the Falcons and led the team with 18 points in their season-ending playoff loss to Santa Ana College, which tied her season-high. Salone also posted 18 points against Los Angeles Southwest College and Reedley College, while she accounted for double-digit points in 12 games and had a season-high 15 rebounds against Los Angeles Harbor College.

Last season, the YellowJackets went 11-15 on the year and ended the season on a five-game losing skid. The team will graduate six seniors, three of which were from California, with Salone being one of six fowards on the team next season.

Photos by Daryl Peterson