In a defensive battle that went down to the final minutes, the Cerritos College women's basketball team held off Compton College for a hard-fought 52-50 victory Wednesday evening at The Aviary.

Lauryn Nakamura led Cerritos with 18 points, adding five rebounds and three assists in 45 minutes of action. Emily Gonzalez was a force inside, finishing with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to record a double-double. She also added four offensive boards to help Cerritos generate second-chance opportunities.

Carissa Basurto chipped in six points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers, and pulled down eight rebounds. Maya Aceves contributed six points, while Justine Lucero filled the stat sheet with 10 rebounds and a team-high five assists.

The Falcons shot over 36 percent from the field and connected on 3-of-8 from beyond the arc.

The Tartars struggled to find offensive rhythm, shooting just 24 percent from the floor despite pulling down 23 offensive rebounds. Cerritos' defense forced difficult looks throughout the night and limited Compton to 3-of-5 shooting from the free-throw line.

In a game where every possession mattered, the Falcons executed down the stretch to protect their home court and come away with the victory.

Cerritos will look to build on the momentum as conference play continues.