SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Middlebury College women’s basketball team pulled away in the third quarter on Saturday in a 74-59 victory over host Skidmore (2-3). 
The Panthers were looking to improve on a 3-0 record when they hosted Castleton on Tuesday after the early holiday deadline for this edition of the Independent. Next up is a game at Cabrini on Saturday.
On this past Saturday Betsy Knox scored a career-high 23 points for the Panthers and added a dozen rebounds. Middlebury outscored the Thoroughbreds, 26-16, in the third quarter after taking a 31-28 lead into the break. 
Middlebury went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter, with four points from Knox. The lead continued to grow, and the Panthers went up 15 for the first time, 52-37, at 2:46 on a bucket from Reagan McDonald. Middlebury maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter.
Freshman Gianna Palli added 17 points and six rebounds for Middlebury, while Kira Waldman finished with 16 points and six boards. Maya Davis added 10 points in the victory, and Alyna Baharozian chipped in eight. 
For Skidmore, Jessica Centore netted 15, and Katie McCarney scored 14.