By Marissa VanWingen, The Times Citizen
Ellsworth Community College has been able to fly under the radar for much of the season, but one way to get noticed is to continuing to find ways to win.
The 24th-ranked Panthers have done that the first half of the year and improved to 13-1 overall and 6-0 in the ICCAC with a 64-49 victory over Iowa Western on Wednesday.
With the win, ECC remains tied atop the conference standings, even with top-ranked and undefeated Kirkwood Community College (16-0, 6-0).
"Who would have thought that two and a half years ago? I am really proud of our kids they have bought in to what we're trying to do. You can see the defensive intensity that we're bringing," said Panther coach Justin Rees. "Kirkwood is who they are and the reason they have been that way for a long time, they are number one in the country for a reason. But, on any given night anything can happen. I really like where our kids our at and I think if we're playing the right way, the way we're capable of, within ourselves and with consistency, I like our chances."
The game was filled with multiple runs, starting from the opening tipoff. ECC scored the first five points of the game and with back-to-back Marin Agustsdottir triples went on top 8-4. The Reivers went on a scoring splurge of their own and took the lead. The two traded advantages five times in the opening frame before Iowa Western ended the period on top 19-16.
The second quarter is what carried the hosts. A Rosario Panadero bucket led to a 15-0 run that was punctuated by Taylor Ross's jumper to make it 31-19. The visitors finally got back on the board to cut the deficit to 10, but ECC outscored the Reivers 17-6 in the stanza to lead 33-25 at the break.
There were some lapses and turnovers by both squads in the third quarter as Iowa Western (9-8, 3-4) went on another surge and hit a long ball as time expired to cut the difference to five (42-37) heading into the final 10 minutes.
The Panthers did not falter and forced turnovers that turned into points. Ross led the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and her putback in the fourth quarter pushed the hosts back up by 10. The Reivers never got within single digits again.
For more photos, visit: https://www.timescitizen.com/gallery/1-8-25-ecc-vs-iowa-western-basketball/collection_df43422a-ce92-11ef-af8f-1b16689cf284.html#1
ICCAC Basketball
Wednesday at Iowa Falls
IWCC: 19| 6| 12| 12 – 49
ECC: 16| 17| 9| 22 – 64
ECC Scoring: Taylor Ross 7 4-4 18; Laia Santanach 3 3-3 10; Marin Agustsdottir 3 1-2 9; Rosario Panadero 4 1-1 9; Claudia Sanz 4 0-0 8; KeyKey Jefferson 2 2-4 7; Favour Anyaele 1 1-4 3.