By Marissa VanWingen
mvanwingen@iafalls.com
The first time the Ellsworth Community College faced 17th-ranked Iowa Lakes Community College, Ethe Panthers led throughout much of the contest but let the upset slipped through their fingers. That loss on Jan. 14 was also the start of a five game swoon.
All nine players that played for the hosts scored in a 61-51 final.
Much of the first half was a nailbiter. There were four lead changes with the final Laker (17-6, 13-3) lead at 12-11. Yaiza Soriano Balaguer drained a basket and then Asia Beale made a bucket inside the paint. The hosts went back on top 15-12 and led 15-14 after the first quarter.
Iowa Lakes scored the first basket of the second period and took the lead back before Sofia Berraquero Beltran hit one of her three triples in the contest to give the Panthers the 20-17 edge. That jumpstarted ECC's offense as the hosts went on a 17-7 run to end the quarter. They would not trail the rest of the game. The Panthers extended the difference to double figures for the first time heading into the break (34-24).
Iowa Lakes made a push in the third quarter but the Panthers (10-12, 6-10) did not back down. The closest the visitors got was within eight points, before an ECC steal, basket and the harm by Beale to go back up by 11. Heading into the final 10 minute frame, the hosts were on top by nine (51-42).
The Lakers made back-to-back three point plays to start the final quarter and got within three (51-48), but again, the Panthers responded. Balaguer hit a pair of buckets to extend the lead back to 55-48. Following a turnover by Iowa Lakes and a foul, Addy Dennis made both freebies to push the lead back up to nine. The largest spread was 12 with 4:36 left to go in the contest.
Down the stretch the Panthers were sent to the free throw line and were 7-10. They finished the game making 21 of 30.
Three players were in double figures, led by Beltran with 17. Beale had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Balaguer added 11 in the win.
For more photos from the game, visit https://www.timescitizen.com/gallery/
ICCAC Basketball
Wednesday at Iowa Falls
ILCC: 14| 10| 18| 19 – 61
ECC: 15| 19| 17| 20 – 71
ECC Scoring: Sofia Berraquero Beltran 5 4-6 17; Asia Beale 5 4-5 14; Yaiza Soriano Balaguer 4 3-6 11; Addy Dennis 1 6-6 8; Claudia Sanz Dorange 3 0-0 6; Kana Nagashima 2 0-1 5; Sare Celaya Urrutia 1 2-4 5; Rebekka Holm 1 0-0 3; Inma Martinez 0 2-2 2.