Ellsworth jumped out to a 11-2 lead as first sub off the bench for Ellsworth Emma Brown made her first three shots, all three-pointers. Senior Molly Janke made four of the next six points for Ellsworth and they led 17-4 half-way through the first half.
The rest of the first half was pretty much even as Ellsworth led 29-18 at the break. Janke made nine points in that stretch which included seven for seven from the charity stripe. Brown added another three-pointer to lead all scorers
with 12 at half.
In the second half, Altoona had a run of six points to pull within nine at 35-26 but then Ellsworth eight straight points which included three-pointers by Janke and Ava Brookshaw. Ellsworth then led 43-26. Ellsworth made nine of 10 free throws down the stretch and pulled away for the 58-36 win.
Janke led Ellsworth with 22 points while Brown had 12 and Morgan Halverson had 8. Alyssa Wirth, 6-5 center for the Railroaders, led Altoona in scoring.
Ellsworth (1-0, 2-1) will play at Amery next Tuesday (Nov. 28) and at home against Durand-Arkansaw on Thursday (Nov. 30).