Middlebury dropped an 80-55 game to Bridgewater State in the consolation game of the Williams Holiday Classic Tournament. With the win, the Bears move to 4-2 while the Panthers fall to 2-3.

The two teams proved evenly matched in the opening half.  When the Bears gained a six-point lead with just over 12:00 to play, Middlebury quickly responded.  Brittany Perfetti hit a big three from the top right part of the arc to cut the lead to 16-13. After Sarah Marcus went 1-2 from the line, Tracy Borsinger had a nice finish to tie the game up at 16 apiece with 11:23 to play.

Jenna Williamson responded with a long two for the Bears, but they were unable to take back a decisive lead. Maddie Moreau stole the ball for the Panthers and took it the length of the court for a bucket. The teams went into the halftime intermission in a 35-35 tie.

Out of the break, the Bears started to take over. They opened the half with a three-point play by Michaela Cosby who was fouled on her way to the hoop. The Bears' full-court press was overpowering for the Panthers, and they quickly added to the lead. With 16:27 on the clock, Cosby stole the ball and took it the length of the court to make it double digits at 47-37. 

Borsinger responded for the Panthers with a bucket from the left baseline to cut the lead to eight, but the Panthers were unable to overcome the deficit. They did cut into the deficit one other time – with about 9:35 to play Katie Ritter was fouled as she drove to the hoop. She made the free throw to cut the lead to seven.

From that point forward, though, it was all Bears as they continued to stretch the lead – pushing it to as many as 29 points before the game was out. Bridgewater held a 50-36 advantage on the boards throughout the afternoon.                    

Leading the way for Middlebury today was Moreau with 12 points, while Marcus added 11.  Katie Pett was named to the all-tournament team for the Panthers, grabbing eight boards today with six points.

BOX SCORE