BRUNSWICK, Maine — The Middlebury College women’s basketball team lost to host Bowdoin, 84-58, in a NESCAC semifinal on Saturday, but the 19-7 Panthers were awarded an NCAA Division III tournament bid on Monday.
The Panthers will participate in a four-team regional hosted by DeSales (25-2) in Center Valley, Penn. They will play John Carroll (22-6) on Friday at 5 p.m., and almost certainly play the host school on Saturday at 7 p.m. if they prevail in the opening game. Middlebury has no common foes with John Carroll. DeSales won a close game with NESCAC school Trinity on a neutral court, while Middlebury split two close games with Trinity on its home court. 
On this past Saturday Bowdoin, which had to rally for a four-point regular-season win at Middlebury, had little trouble this time around. A mid-quarter first-period run helped the Polar Bears to a 21-14 first-period lead, and Bowdoin stretched the advantage to 43-26 at the break by forcing 15 first-half Panther turnovers. Bowdoin led by as many as 29 in the second half.
Kira Waldman led Middlebury with 17 points, Maya Davis recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Colleen Caveney finished with 13 points and three steals.
All five Bowdoin starters finished in double figures, led by 20 points from Samantha Roy, who added four assists and four steals. 
Amherst upset Bowdoin on Sunday for the playoff title, dealing the 26-1 Polar Bears, then the No. 1 team in NCAA D-III, their first setback.