-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Izzy Bassett of Iowa Central shoots around ellsworth on Wednesday inside Hodges fieldhouse

A large flurry helped the Iowa Central women surge past Ellsworth here Wednesday night inside Hodges Fieldhouse, 64-57.

With the win, the Tritons (17-5 overall, 10-4 in ICCAC) improved to 7-3 at home and have now won four in a row.

Shakani Murray scored a career-high 28 points, recording her third game this year with at least 20 points, to lead Iowa Central. Trista Ohlmeier added 11 points and seven rebounds, as as the Tritons were plus-eight on points off turnovers.

For the Panthers (8-12, 4-10), Yaiza Soriano-Balaguer scored 21 and Imma Martinez chipped in with 10.

“It was good to grind out that win,” ICCC head coach Graham McFall said. “We won the 50/50 battle in the fourth quarter and we did a better job finishing strong at the rim late in the game.

“We were able to put together multiple stops in a row in the closing minutes to seal it.”

Earlier this month, Iowa Central left Iowa Falls with a 64-57 victory over the Panthers as part of a 6-2 record in January with one game remaining on the schedule this month.

After battling to a draw following the first quarter, Ellsworth took a slim one-point lead into the break. The score would remain that way going to the fourth when Iowa Central went on an 18-10 closing run to secure the win.

Murray had six and Ohlmeier added five during the final quarter, as Amelia Echternkamp chipped in four off the bench while playing the entire period. Iowa Central committed just one turnover, as the Panthers had six.

Echternkamp finished with seven points and four rebounds, with Ashleigh Kerr adding six points and three boards.

Up next for the Tritons is a trip to Boone to face Des Moines Area on Saturday at 1 p.m.

IOWA CENTRAL 64,

ELLSWORTH 57

Iowa Central — Trista Ohlmeier 5-9 1-2 11, Annika Scott 0-0 1-2 1, Ashlin Jacobsen 1-6 2-2 4, Izzy Bassett 2-9 1-1 5, Shakani Murray 10-25 5-5 28, Sharon Greek 0-0 0-0 0, Amelia Echternkamp 2-5 2-4 7, MacKenna Bush 1-1 0-0 2, Eden Hentges 0-2 0-0 0, Ashleigh Kerr 3-4 0-0 6. Totals: 24-61 12-16 64.

Ellsworth — Yaiza Soriano Balaguer 6-27 9-9 21, Addison Dennis 3-4 0-0 7, Claudia Sanz Dorange 3-11 0-0 7, Imma Martinez 2-6 5-5 10, Sare Celaya Urrutia 1-2 2-2 4, Rebekka Holm 0-0 0-0 0, Asia Beale 2-6 2-4 6, Kana Nagashima 0-2 0-0 0, Sofia Berraquero Beltran 1-6 0-0 2. Totals: 18-64 18-20 57.

Quarter scores: Tied 15-15; Ellsworth led 34-33, 47-46. Three-point goals: Iowa Central 4-15 (Jacobsen 0-3, Bassett 0-2, Murray 3-7, Echternkamp 1-3), Ellsworth 3-19 (Balaguer 0-2, Dennis 1-1, Dorange 1-4, Martinez 1-5, Urrutia 0-1, Beale 0-1, Nagashima 0-1, Beltran 0-4). Total rebounds: Iowa Central 32, Ellsworth 38. Assists: Iowa Central 6, Ellsworth 5. Steals: Iowa Central 8, Ellsworth 7. Blocked shots: Iowa Central 5, Ellsworth 0. Turnovers: Iowa Central 13, Ellsworth 19. Team fouls: Iowa Central 15, Ellsworth 17.