By Justin Ites, The Times-Citizen

Norfolk, NE – The Ellsworth Community College Women's Basketball team locked down the number two seed in the upcoming Region XI Tournament with a big road win at Northeast Community College on Wednesday.

Four Panthers reached double figures offensively as the squad won a back-and-forth contest by a final of 75-64.

Wednesday's victory ECC (24-5, 14-4) guarantees at least two homes games in the Region XI-B bracket. The Panthers will host seventh-seed Iowa Lakes (12-18, 6-12) on Saturday, March 1 with a tip at 1 p.m. If ECC advances, they would host the Region XI-B Final on Monday, March 3 at 5:30 p.m. Potential opponents are third seed NIACC or sixth-seed Iowa Western. 

The host Hawks (20-8, 12-6) led the game 17-16 after one quarter, but ECC outscored them 26-12 in the second period to take a 42-29 advantage into the locker room.

NECC seized back the momentum with a strong third quarter and cut the deficit to 58-54 entering the final period.

ECC put together its best defensive quarter of the game, holding the Hawks to 10 points in the final frame, as they won by 11 points.

Laia Santanach paced the Panthers' offensive attack with 17 points, and she was joined in double figures by Favour Nmecha Anyaele (16 pts), Claudia Sanz Dorange (11 pts) and Taylor Ross (11 pts).

NECC's Mia Wiederin was the game's high scorer with 27 points in the loss.

Looking ahead to Saturday's Region XI-B Semifinal, the Panthers will look to continue their season domination of Iowa Lakes. ECC won both regular season games over the Lakers by finals of 72-47 and 73-49. 

Regular season Region XI champ and top-rated Kirkwood is the number one seed in the Region XI-A bracket. Those tourney games include Kirkwood vs. eight-seed Marshalltown and four-seed NECC taking on five seed DMACC.

For more Times-Citizen coverage of Ellsworth athletics: https://www.timescitizen.com/sports/ecc/