Week In Review | Women's Basketball | March 29-April 4

Southwestern def. NIACC, 69-62

#17 DMACC def. Southeastern, 48-32

Iowa Lakes def. Ellsworth, 88-65

#2 Kirkwood def. Iowa Central, 68-59 

Northeast def. Marshalltown, 65-35 (Region XI Tournament)

Game of the Week (NIACC @ Ellsworth)

The Trojans completed an big combeback on the road at Ellsworth on Wednesday. For the first ten minutes both teams shot very well and NIACC jumped out to a two point lead, 25-23. Ellsworth went on an extended run during the second and third quarters, outscoring NIACC by 15. The Panthers took a 62-49 lead into the final frame. 

An extended run in the fourth quarter and hot shooting from the Trojans started their rally. The Trojans outscored the Panthers 26-13 in the first nine minutes of the final quartet. With 43 seconds remaining in the game tied at 75, Haley Hungerholt hit a corner three that would eventually be the game winner. Ellsworth would make a free throw late to make the game 78-76, but that would end up being the final score. 

Ellsworth seemed to have the advantage all throughout the game, they had a double-digit lead going into the fouth quarter and outperformed NIACC in nearly every statistical category. The Panthers had fewer turnovers, more blocks, more rebounds, and more assits, and shot better from the field. The difference was grit and determination, as NIACC got to the free throw line more often and had 12 more attempts then Ellsworth from the charity stripe. 

Kourtney Manning led her Trojans with 19 points, a career-high 17 rebounds, and a team-high five assists. Manning also added four steals and three blocks to her stat line. Hungerholt made the game winner for NIACC, and it was her only three-pointer of the game, but it came at the most crucial time.