Ellsworth senior forward Morgan Halverson scored a career-high 29 points and snared 10 rebounds in a 65-36 win over St. Paul Central last Monday night. The Hamline University-signee is averaging over 14 points and almost eight rebounds per game. Halverson was just over her concussion protocol but had to sit out Thursday night's game against Altoona per doctor's orders. 

"We didn't find out until later in the day," said first-year Ellsworth Head Coach Haylee Yaeger. "Morgan (Halverson) is just such a crucial player for us. She gets the offense rolling and she's our best defensive player, too. It took us awhile to figure out not having her."

Coach Yaeger was correct. The host Panthers started out the game down 10-2, giving up a plethora of easy lay-ups. Ellsworth would settle in, however, as freshman guard Jenna Stoltenburg displayed some scrappy play. With the quickness of a young fly in the kitchen, Stoltenburg had six first-half points on speedy drives to the basket. Stoltenburg finished with eight points for the game.

"We're very young, which comes with its perks and flaws," said Coach Yaeger. "I'm confident Jenna (Stoltenburg) is going to keep improving. I liked her effort tonight."

The Panthers scratched their way back to within six in the first half, 23-17, after a three-pointer by sophomore Alivia Maher. The Railroaders led at the break, 29-20.

The beginning of the second half saw a barrage of eight different Railroaders make baskets. Altoona was staked to an 18-point lead within five minutes into the second half behind numerous slower rotation Panther defensive assignments down by the block. Halverson’s missing defensive presence in the lane was as evident as an ice cream Sunday needing a cherry on top. The good news for Ellsworth, however, Maher heated up in the 2nd half. The sophomore shooting guard was red-hot from beyond the arc, knocking down four threes in the second half. She totaled five threes for the game. Maher finished with a career-high 17 points, but it wasn't quite enough as Altoona cruised to a 55-40 Middle Border Conference win. 

"It was tough without Morgan (Halverson) tonight, but in the second half my teammates set really good screens. I got a lot of opportunities and when I do, I usually hit them," said Maher.

Maher is shooting just over 22% from beyond the arc on the season, but she is shooting a blistering 39% from three-point land during the last three games (9 for 23).

"Her (Maher) shot is developing every single game and every single practice," said Yaeger. "We need to step up our three-point game, so having her take those three's is going to help us.”

Coach Yaeger discussed the perks and flaws of having a young team. Maher’s night was a perfect example. She did have a career-high 17 points; however, she also committed 10 turnovers from the shooting guard position. The Panthers totaled 18 turnovers as a team against Altoona.

Junior guard Lexi Marks tallied 13 points for Ellsworth, including 6 of 8 from the free-throw line in the second half. Ellsworth dropped to 6-11 on the season after the loss to Altoona. Coach Yaeger and the Panthers will have Halverson back for this week's two games at Mondovi on Monday and at home against Baldwin-Woodville on Tuesday.

The Panthers will next travel to Boyceville Friday, Feb. 7 to take on the Bulldogs. Tip-off is at 5:45 p.m.