MIDDLEBURY — Visiting Keene State defeated the Middlebury College women’s basketball team, 60-56, on Jan. 22. The Owls (10-7) hit 13 of 14 free throws, including seven of eight in the final minutes to hold off a late challenge by the Panthers. Middlebury (10-8) will host NESCAC foe Williams on Friday at 7 p.m.
Middlebury missed its first 11 shots and turned the ball over six times in falling behind, 11-0, in the first nine minutes, but fought back to within two at the half, 21-19, with help from hoops from Rachel Crews and Sarah Kaufman.
Middlebury took the lead to open the second half on hoops by Alexis Coolidge and Crews, but Keene retook control and led by 51-42 with 4:43 to go. 
On the next three Panther possessions, Kaufman hit a three, a jumper and two free throws to cut the deficit to 55-49 with 1:38 left. A Sabrina Weeks then made it 55-51 at 1:03 left. Owl Kelsey Cognetta sandwiched four free throws around an Elizabeth Knox basket, giving Keene State a 59-53 lead with 22 seconds to play.
A Kaufman three-pointer at 0:08 set the score at 59-56, but the Owls successfully inbounded and made a free throw to ice the win. 
Kaufman led all scorers with 23 points, the second-highest output of her career. Crews finished with 11 points, while Knox added nine points, a team-best nine rebounds and five assists and two steals. Cognetta paced the Owls with 18 points.