Women’s Basketball Starts 4–0

The women’s basketball team hit the road for its first four games of the season and won all four, taking two wins at the Emerson Tip-Off Classic on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18 and 19, then defeating Johnson St. 74–27 on Tuesday, Nov. 21, and Clarkson 53–49 on Sunday, Nov. 26.

Middlebury opened its season at the Emerson Tip-Off Classic against the host, Emerson.

The Panthers jumped out to 10–0 lead and led 23–14 at the end of the first quarter. Thereafter they would only add to their lead by outscoring the Lions 19–5 in the second quarter to take a 43–19 lead into halftime.

Things were relatively even in the second half, and Middlebury easily moved to 1–0 on the season with an 80–55 victory. Sarah Kaufman ’18 led the team in scoring with 12 points, while Sabrina Weeks ’18 and Lily Kuntz ’20 both added ten off the bench.

In their second game of the quasi-round robin tournament, the Panthers shut down Mount Saint Mary, winning its second game 59–34. The Knights shot only 24 percent from the field, only making 10 field goals, while turning the ball over 24 times.

Once again, the Panthers got contributions off the bench as Betsy Knox ’20 scored a game-high 12 points. Colleen Caveney ’19 added nine en route to being named the classic’s Most Outstanding Player.

Next, the Panthers travelled to play at Johnson St. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, where they dominated once more to come away with a 74–27 victory. After the first half, Middlebury led 50–9.

In another balanced effort, Caveney tallied 12 points on four of five shooting in only 11 minutes, and Weeks added 12 points off the bench as well. No Middlebury player saw more than 17 minutes of action in the contest.

The Panthers’ competition got much tougher in their final matchup of the four-game slate at Clarkson on Sunday, Nov. 26.

After one quarter, the score was tied at 15, but Middlebury surged ahead, outscoring the Golden Knights by nine points in the second quarter to take a 31–22 lead into the locker room.
Clarkson responded in the third quarter by cutting the lead to two entering the final quarter.

Middlebury went on a 5–0 run to go ahead 47–40, but Clarkson came right back with a 6–0 run of its one to make it a one-point game with 3:39 remaining. The teams traded baskets around the two minute mark, and Middlebury held off Clarkson over the last two minutes to secure a 53–49 victory.

Alex Huffman ’19 scored the Panthers’ last four points and secured the rebound on Clarkson’s three-point attempt that would have tied the game at 52 with 15 seconds left.

No Panther scored in double figures, but 10 chipped in with Maya Davis ’20 and Catherine Harrison ’19 leading the way with eight points.

Neither team shot particularly well, as the Panthers finished at 31 percent from the field and the Golden Knights at 24 percent.

Middlebury will return to action when it travels to Colby-Sawyer on Friday, Dec. 1. They return home to play Plattsburgh St. on Tuesday, Dec. 5.