By Marissa VanWingen, The Times Citizen

Shooting just 30 percent from the floor and being held to a second lowest point total against a rival team typically is the recipe for a loss.

However, Ellsworth Community College's defense kept them in the game against Marshalltown Community College and making a few key buckets down the stretch allowed them to open 2025 with a 55-50 victory in front of a home crowd.

"I don't want to take away anything from Marshalltown and the way they executed their game plan. They really wanted to take the tempo out of us and credit to them, their game plan and their players. They executed that for probably 36 minutes and did a great job of frustrating us and forcing us to miss shots that we would normally hit," said Panther coach Justin Rees. "Credit to them and the way they played defensively and the way they kind of controlled the tempo. But, we've got to bounce back and get a little bit more going. I was really proud of our defense, again holding a team like that to 50 when you can't score."

For the game, the hosts were 1 of 20 from downtown, their lone make coming in the fourth period.

This year, No. 24 ECC (12-1, 5-0) and Tigers (11-4, 3-2) have seen a resurgence. MCC has equaled their last three seasons win totals combined while ECC has already equaled last year's wins. Meeting in Iowa Falls with 11 wins each, there was little separation throughout the first three quarters.

Six minutes into the game Favour Anyaele's free throw cut the deficit to one (9-8) and the two would trade leads twice with the hosts coming out on top 16-14. While her teammates were 5-26 in the first half, Anyaele scored 10 points and led all scoring with 18 for the game.

In the second stanza neither team could buy a basket. There were two ties, the final at 20-20 when Shenell Stewart hit a buzzer as the shot clock expired. The Tigers then went on a 5-1 run to end the half on top 23-21. Also hurting the hosts, fouls. Leading scorer, Ella Sharar, was forced to sit most of the opening 20 minutes because of foul trouble.

Coming out of the break, the two would trade leads four times with MCC coming out on top the final time – 30-29. Ross picked up two quick fouls in a row and the visitors made a pair of free throws. Another Tiger basket gave them their largest lead of the game, 34-29.

Late in the third, Sharar made her first points of the contest and then got to the charity stripe to cut the deficit to one (35-34) heading into the final 10 minutes. She finished second on the team with nine points.

Once again the fourth was back and forth with ECC taking the 37-36 advantage on a make by Marin Agustsdottir. The next eight minutes the Panthers were able to get to the free throw line and hit some baskets and built the largest lead by either team (53-43). MCC would cut into the difference to get within four but key free throws from Claudia Sanz ice the game.

For photos from the game, click here: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.timescitizen.com%2fgallery%2f1-4-25-ecc-vs-mcc-womens-basketball%2fcollection_caf9a854-cc35-11ef-9ac0-7b13a3b595a2.html%231&c=E,1,G2siG0R_HBtFKnx7sN5CiktksjhsEkYx0ECXpX2WIVjDXx8H2B8EF_HJLh7UY5DZ8cprMbWH9jbsrq40j9cFkD5JPnSqr3gzINV2mSmM0sgQZsJuyEqXAogpLw,,&typo=1

ICCAC Basketball
Saturday at Iowa Falls

MCC: 14| 9| 12| 15 – 50
ECC: 16| 5| 12| 22 – 55

ECC Scoring: Favour Anyaele 7 4-6 18; Ella Sharar 2 5-6 9; Marin Agustsdottir 3 2-3 8; Laia Santanach 3 0-0 6; Rosario Panadero 2 1-2 8; Taylor Ross 1 2-2 4; Claudia Sanz 0 2-2 2; Nile Celaya 1 0-0 2.