PHOTO BY MARISSA VANWINGEN-ITES/IOWA FALLS TIMES CITIZEN - Marshalltown Community College guard Shenell Stewart (33) attacks the basket against Ellsworth defender Ella Sharar (5) during Saturday’s basketball game at Dittmer Gymnasium in Iowa Falls. Stewart led MCC with 14 points in a 55-50 loss to the 24th-ranked Panthers.

IOWA FALLS — The Marshalltown Community College women’s basketball team had upset on its mind, but Ellsworth wasn’t about to ring in the new year in defeat.

Ellsworth outscored MCC 22-15 in the fourth quarter to overtake the Tigers for a 55-50 victory in Saturday’s Iowa Community College Athletic Conference showdown at Dittmer Gymnasium.

MCC (11-4, 3-2) led 35-33 going into the final period but couldn’t put the 24th-ranked Panthers away. Ellsworth (12-1, 5-0) captured its eighth-straight win, while the Tigers had their four-game win streak snapped.

Favour Nmecha Anyaele had game-highs of 18 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead the Panthers. Ella Sharar added nine points and 10 boards, and Marin Lind Agustsdottir added eight points as Ellsworth overcame 30.6-percent shooting from the field and a 1-for-20 day from 3-point range.

Shenell Stewart had 14 points and six steals to lead MCC and Kimari Hall contributed 12 points, but the Tigers couldn’t overcome 22 turnovers. Mia Sao-Martinez chipped in nine points, while Destiny Sao-Martinez tallied six points and a team-high 10 rebounds off the bench.

Marshalltown returns to action with a game at top-ranked Kirkwood on Wednesday in Cedar Rapids, followed by Saturday’s home game against DMACC.