By Marissa VanWingen, The Times Citizen
Ellsworth Community College is keeping pace with the top ranked team in the nation.
Both No. 1 Kirkwood Community College and the 25th-rated Panthers are undefeated in Iowa Community College Athletic Conference play. To end the 2024, the lone thing that separates the two is ECC suffered a loss on Nov. 15 to Southwestern Illinois College.
ECC (11-1, 4-0) traveled to cellar dwellers Southwestern Community College (1-10, 0-4) and recorded an 81-46 win to improve to 11-1 and 4-0 in conference play.
The first quarter was close, with the Panthers having just a 22-16 advantage. The lead swelled to 36-25 at the break and continued to grow. The visitors were on top by 23 and then recorded the 35-point victory, outscoring the Spartans 45-21 in the second half.
Of the 10 ECC players that got playing time, eight scored and four were in double figures. The Panthers shot 51.7 percent from the floor and drained 10 three-pointers.
Two turned in double-doubles. Ella Sharar hit three triples on her way to 18 points and nabbed 11 rebounds. Taylor Ross was seven of eight from the floor for 16 points and brought in 10 boards. Freshman guard Rosario Panadero tallied 13 points, six assists and five rebounds. Marin Agustsdottir was also in double digits with 12 points.
Heading into the new year, ECC is 12th in the nation in points per game (80.1), 16th in field goals and seventh in rebounds per game (49.9). The Panthers will return to action when they host Marshalltown on Saturday, Jan. 4.
For more on ECC Athletics, click here: https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.timescitizen.com%2fsports%2fecc%2f&c=E,1,uiFtpIPuwWj8MgRibMDGaLZEVNQb00nBY1SIvpd7ncSjgvgi6H_f1zTEze4V9VyrdxWuA2puCOvB9m-ktK8guB_c-8iU75h8guL3P5tfDSeBdQ,,&typo=1
ICCAC Basketball
Saturday at Creston
ECC: 22| 14| 24| 21 – 81
SWCC: 16| 9| 12| 9 – 46
ECC Scoring: Ella Sharar 6 3-3 18; Taylor Ross 7 2-3 16; Rosario Panadero 4 4-9 13; Marin Agustsdottir 5 0-0 12; Laia Santanach 3 0-0 8; KeyKey Jefferson 2 0-0 6; Claudia Sanz 2 0-0 4; Bwanne Ciimban 1 2-4 4.