NORTHFIELD — The Middlebury College women’s basketball team this past Friday and Saturday claimed the championship of the four-team Ed Hockenberry Classic tournament hosted by Norwich University. Middlebury knocked off Keene State, 74-59, in Friday’s first round before routing the host Cadets on Saturday, 80-42. 

The two wins improved the Panthers to 7-1 as they concluded their first semester of play. That’s the best start for the program since the 2018-2019 team won its first 12 games.

On Friday, Middlebury and Keene State (2-5) were tied at 31-31 at the half, but the Panthers opened the third period with a 9-0 run and still led by nine, 56-47, entering the fourth quarter. An 18-12 Middlebury edge in the final period settled matters.

Alexa Mustafaj led Middlebury with a game-high 26 points to go with a career-best eight assists; she also added seven rebounds.

Panther forward Augusta Dixon posted her third double-double in the last four games and fourth of the season, scoring 13 points with 10 rebounds. She also blocked three shots. Callie Messina scored 15 points, hitting three shots from behind the arc, and Kate Tornwini scored eight. The Panthers forced 18 turnovers and committed only 11. 

Norwich made Saturday’s final by defeating Wellesley on Friday, 59-45, but had little luck vs. Middlebury.

The Panthers led by 20-10 after one period, and then dropped a 28-9 second quarter on the Cadets to lead by 48-19 at halftime. 

Keeley Baglio came off the bench to lead Middlebury with 18 points, hitting four of six three-point attempts. Mustafaj paced the starters with 17 points and three assists; Dixon scored only three points, but pulled down a game-high nine rebounds; and Messina hit three of five from behind the arc and scored 11.

Eleven Panthers scored, and the bench contributed 40 points, including seven from Teagan Lind and five from Leah Poorman. The Panthers also forced 21 Cadet turnovers. Maren McGinn scored 17 to lead Norwich, which dropped to 5-3.

Middlebury is off until Dec. 29, when the Panthers will visit New York University.