MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s basketball picked up two recent wins, one a key NESCAC result, to improve to 16-2, 4-1 in league play. 
The Panthers next face another pivotal league contest. On Sunday at 2 p.m. they visit Trinity College in Connecticut, which is 15-3 and 2-2 in NESCAC play. With Amherst, Bowdoin and Tufts all ranked in the top six in NCAA Division III and all but locks for top-four seeds in the league postseason, a win over Trinity could become crucial in the Panthers’ quest for a home playoff game. 
This past Saturday’s 76-62 win over visiting Williams (8-9, 2-3 NESCAC) was important for the same reason. In that game in Middlebury the Ephs led, 20-19, early in the second quarter before the Panthers went on a 16-0 run. Colleen Caveney sparked the decisive surge with a three-pointer, another hoop and two free throws, and Kira Waldman, Alex Huffman and Vanessa Young also hit from behind the arc in the run. 
In all, the Panthers outscored the Ephs by 32-10 in the period, and Williams came no closer than 11 points in the second half. 
Caveney led four Panthers in double figures with 17 points to go along with four assists. Catherine Harrison scored 15 and added five rebounds. Waldman tallied 14 points and eight rebounds, while Huffman finished with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Betsy Knox contributed nine points, eight boards and four blocked shots. 
SENIOR CENTER CATHERINE Harrison gets inside to score two of her 15 points in Middlebury’s win over Williams on Saturday. Harrison also pulled down five rebounds.
Independent photo/Steve James
The Panthers hit eight of 13 three-pointers, part of a 58-percent shooting afternoon, and recorded 20 assists on 30 hoops. Williams shot 35 percent while getting 15 points from Lauren Vostal and 13 from Lexi Jones.
On Tuesday, the Panthers coasted by visiting Clarkson, 59-42. The Panthers used a 12-2 run in the second quarter to take charge and earn a 37-21 halftime lead. Clarkson (5-10) came no closer than 13 points in the second half, during which the Panthers stretched their lead to 24 (52-28) in the fourth quarter.
PANTHER SENIOR CENTER Catherine Harrison, who scored 15 points and added five rebounds, outlets a pass under the basket during Saturday’s game against league foe Williams.
Independent photo/Steve James
Emily Wander led a balanced scoring attack for the Panthers with 12 points, while Harrison recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds. Knox finished with 12 rebounds to go along with seven points, while Maya Davis notched 10 boards and seven points. Huffman finished with five points to go along with five assists and three steals.
Molly Stewart paced the Golden Knights with 20 points to go along with six rebounds. The Panthers outrebounded, 55-27, and held an opponent to 50 points or fewer for the 10th time this season.