CRESTON, IOWA -- In a tense battle that wasn't decided until the final minute, Ellsworth CC knocked off Southwestern CC, 55-52, Saturday afternoon.  The Panthers were down 52-51 with less than a minute to play when Favour Nmecha Anyaele got the biggest of her 16 rebounds, an offensive board that she put back in to give ECC the advantage by a point.  After a tie-up led to possession for the Panthers, Taylor Ross nailed down the win with a pair of free throws.

The game was tight throughout.  Ellsworth led 14-12 after one quarter, but trailed 28-26 at intermission.  The Panthers limited SWCC to just 6 points in the 3rd period and even though they scored only 10 themselves ECC held a 2-point going into the final quarter.  There were 2 ties and 3 lead changes in the last 10 minutes.

Ross and Ingrid Martinez Guillen both dropped in 12 points to lead the Panthers.  Anyaele added 9 points to her 16 rebounds and Marin Lind Agustsdottir dished out 6 assists.

The win allowed Ellsworth to avenge an earlier 80-73 loss to Southwestern and came on the heels of ECC's homecourt decision over Iowa Lakes on Wednesday.

The Panthers go for their 3rd consecutive win on Wednesday at Iowa Central.