Box Score NEW LONDON, N.H. – November 17, 2013 – The Colby-Sawyer College women's basketball team fell to Middlebury College, 59-43 on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Colby-Sawyer Tip-Off. 

BOX SCORE

Middlebury evens its record at 1-1 and will host Emmanuel on Saturday, November 23 at 2:00 p.m. The Chargers drop to 0-2 and will travel to 10th ranked Tufts on Tuesday for a 6:00 p.m. tip.

The Panthers led wire-to-wire and controlled the glass, outrebounding Colby-Sawyer 38-25. Middlebury used a strong shooting first half to create a comfortable 32-18 lead at the break. The Panthers shot 48% and held Colby-Sawyer to 22% in the first 20 minutes.

The visitors scored 14 of the game's first 16 points in an eight minute span capped by a Rachel Crews (South Burlington, Vt.) jumper. Three minutes later the Panthers held their largest lead of the half at 21-5 after a pair of free throws by senior Sarah Marcus (Williamsville, N.Y.). Colby-Sawyer pulled within 11 on a Kristin Ellis (South Easton, Mass.) layup, but headed to the lockerroom down 32-18 at the break.

Both teams shot over 40% in the second half and the rebounds were even at 13 apiece. The difference in the second half, which kept Middlebury with a sizable lead, was the ability to knock down the outside shot. The Panthers connected on 5-13, while Colby-Sawyer missed all five attempts.

Colby-Sawyer's deficit ballooned to 21 with 12 minutes left when Laura Lowry (West Hartford, Conn.) connected on one of her four three-pointers. The Chargers responded with a 12-2 run sparked by three baskets by senior Mari Meserve (Carver, Mass.) to cut the Middlebury lead to 11 at 47-36. Unfortunately for Colby-Sawyer, that would be the closest they would come as the Panthers hit a pair of trey's and knocked down several free throws for a 59-43 victory.

Marcus led the Panthers with 15 points and five assists. Lowry added 14 points and four assists. Freshman Siobhan O'Sullivan (Reading, Mass.) also reached double-figures with 11 points and had five steals. Senior Katie Pett (Saginaw, Mich.) followed her 23 rebound performance from yesterday with 12 boards to lead all players in today's game.

Junior Kelsey Bragdon (Wells, Maine) led Colby-Sawyer with 12 points. Junior Kelsey Cahill (Cumberland, R.I.) added 10 points, six rebounds, five steals and a pair of blocks. Sophomore Sara Roy (Nashua, N.H.) collected five assists.