Middlebury defeats Salve Regina in final game of 2015

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Middlebury women's basketball team finished off the 2015 calendar year on a winning note, as the Panthers defeated Salve Regina on Wednesday by a 79-58 score in Pepin Gymnasium. The 79 points for Middlebury was a season high as the Panthers shot 50 percent from the field (28-56) for the game.

The Panthers (4-2) are back on the court this weekend participating in the New York University Holiday Classic, where they will face Bridgewater State on Saturday and the host Violets the following day. Salve Regina (3-7) plays again on January 5 at Eastern Nazarene.

Middlebury never trailed in the game, scoring the opening five points of the contest. Sarah Kaufman netted the initial points of the contest with a three-pointer, and Catherine Harrison followed with a basket from inside the paint. Middlebury held a seven-point edge (20-13) at the end of the first quarter.

The Panthers started the second quarter with another nice run, this time scoring seven-straight points. Harrison again hit a jumper from the paint and Kaufman connected on shot from behind the arc. Rachel Collins capped the run with a jumper, putting the hosts in front 27-13. Middlebury's lead grew to 43-26 at the half.

Middlebury continued to build on its lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Seahawks by a 22-12 margin, with the final bucket of the frame coming in the closing seconds on a lay-up by Alec Huffman.

In the fourth quarter, the hosts took their biggest lead of the game of 30 (68-38) on a free throw by Harrison.

Harrison posted her second straight double-double consisting of 20 points, going 8-11 from the floor, along with a game-high 12 rebounds. Kaufman finished with 18 points for the Panthers, while Sabrina Weeks chipped in with nine and both Huffman and Amanda Bayer netted eight.

For Salve Regina, Meaghan Harden led all players with 29 points, as the guard went 11-18 from the floor and a perfect 4-4 from the foul line.