Freshman Riley Gatton of Montezuma scored 23 points and grabbed four rebounds to lead the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) women's basketball team to a 77-68 win over Ellsworth Community College (ECC) February 15 at Iowa Falls.

Freshman Jada Powell of Des Moines added 19 points and nine rebounds and sophomore Taelor Lessmeier of Fort Dodge came away with 12 points as the Bears improved to 10-16 overall and 4-9 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).

DMACC led throughout the game. The Bears were ahead 20-18 at the end of the first quarter, 40-29 at halftime and 50-45 at the end of the third quarter. They shot 39 percent in the win, hitting 25 of 65 field goal attempts. DMACC was 8-of-19 from three-point range and 19-of-27 from the free throw line.

ECC came away with a 39-36 advantage on the boards with Powell's nine rebounds leading DMACC. Freshman Katelyn Courtney of Ames had five rebounds and Lessmeier, sophomore Hannah McKinney of Des Moines and freshman Emma Mace of Hawarden joined Gatton with four rebounds apiece. Sophomore Asia Mena of Chicago, Ill., dished out a team-high five assists and Gatton and Lessmeier had two steals apiece.

The DMACC women's basketball team is home to Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) Feb. 19. Game time is 5:30 p.m. The Lakers are 15-10 overall and 6-7 in the ICCAC. They defeated DMACC, 73-66, when the two teams played Jan. 22 at Estherville.