SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Host Skidmore on Saturday dealt the Middlebury College women’s basketball team its first loss of the season, 63-60. The Thoroughbreds (5-3) took advantage of 28 Panther turnovers, converting them into 32 points.
Middlebury (3-1) returns to action on Saturday, when it hosts Plattsburgh State in the team’s home opener at 2 p.m. That contest will also close first-semester action for the Panthers.
With the game tied at 58-58 with 36 seconds to go, Skidmore’s Veronica Moceri hit a three-pointer. Middlebury cut the lead to 61-60 on a pair of Catherine Harrison free throws with 22.2 seconds left, and the Panthers got the ball back following a turnover, but missed a layup.
Kelly Donnelly came away with the rebound for the Thoroughbreds and sank two free throws with 8.7 seconds to play for the 63-60 final. Sarah Kaufman missed a deep three attempt for Middlebury at the buzzer.
Kaufman led the Panthers with 20 points and four assists, while Harrison had 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with four assists. Eileen Daley and Rachel Collins added nine points apiece.
Moceri led Skidmore with 14 points off the bench, while Donnelly and Amber Holgate added 11 points apiece. The Thoroughbred bench outscored Middlebury’s substitutes, 28-6.