Eagles Pull Away in Second Half to Secure Road Win at Ellsworth
Iowa Falls, IA- The #7 Kirkwood Eagles traveled to Iowa Falls on Wednesday night, determined to protect their spot atop the ICCAC conference standings. In a tightly contested battle with the Ellsworth Panthers, the Eagles used a pivotal third quarter to create separation and ultimately secured a 54-43 victory.
The game was a defensive grind from the opening tip. Ellsworth edged ahead 15-14 after the first quarter, and the two teams went into halftime deadlocked at 26-26. Neither side found much rhythm offensively in the first half, as both teams were forced to earn every possession.
Coming out of the locker room, Kirkwood flipped the switch. The Eagles held Ellsworth to just seven points in the third quarter while putting up 14 of their own to take control of the game. That defensive intensity carried into the fourth, where Kirkwood continued to extend its lead and closed out the 11-point win.
Olivia Wren led the way offensively, pouring in 19 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including three three-pointers, and knocking down four free throws in 40 minutes of action. Madison Stowater provided a major spark off the bench with 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double while helping Kirkwood control the glass.
Kaci Crum added seven points and four rebounds, while Whitney Sullivan and Erianna Moeschter each chipped in six points. Kennedy Blakely facilitated the offense with five assists, and Bra'Ja Torry filled the stat sheet with three assists and three steals as the Eagles forced 16 Ellsworth turnovers.
Kirkwood dominated the rebounding battle 43-31 and held the Panthers to just 29.4% shooting from the field. The Eagles also turned defense into offense, scoring 14 points off turnovers and limiting Ellsworth's second-chance opportunities.
Next Up
The Eagles return home Saturday for their penultimate ICCAC regular season game as they welcome the DMACC Bears to Johnson Hall. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. The Bears are currently receiving votes in the latest NJCAA poll.
