Posted: Jan 16, 2025
#1 Eagles Stifle #17 Panthers
Kirkwood 71
Ellsworth 45
Top ranked Kirkwood is known for their defense and Wednesday's game against #17 Ellsworth was another example of that, as they came away with a hard fought 71-45 victory in Iowa Falls.
The Eagles got off to a 10-2 start and never looked back as they took an 18-10 lead after a quarter of play.
Sophomore Kaliyah Sain knocked down a three pointer from the left wing to cap off a 14-3 run and extend Kirkwood's lead to 32-13 midway through the second quarter.
Kirkwood (18-0 / 8-0) would hold a 37-18 lead at halftime.
Both teams traded baskets to start the third quarter and Ellsworth would draw within 14 points at 44-30, but the Eagles stepped up their defense once again and closed the quarter with a 17-5 run to take a 61-35 lead into the final quarter.
Sain led the Eagles with a career-high 24 points (4-6 from three point range).
Sophomore Jenna Twedt (15 points) and freshman Olivia Wren (10 points) also finished in double figures for Kirkwood.
Sophomore Lizzy Puot added nine points, while sophomore Ella Pritchard finished with six points and nine rebounds.
Freshman Eva Steffensen came off the bench to score four points and freshman Kennedy Blakely rounded out the scoring for the Eagles with three points.
Kirkwood continued to shoot well from three point range going 11-20 (55.0%).
Over the last three games, the Eagles are excelling from three point range, as they are shooting 37-87 (42.5%).
Defense however is where Kirkwood overpowers their opponents. They entered the game leading the nation at giving up only 40.0 points per game.
Wednesday was no different as the Eagles held Ellsworth 31 points below their season average (76.4) and forced the Panthers into 32 turnovers
Through 18 games this season, Kirkwood has only allowed three opponents to surpass the 50 point mark and no opponent has scored more than 58 points against them.
Kirkwood's next contest will be a home game against #25 Northeast (NE), the seventh ranked team they've played already this season, on Saturday at 1:00 pm in Johnson Hall.
