The Middlebury women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling 61-54 on the road Saturday at Salve Regina (3-1). The Panthers move to 3-1 on the season and will play their home-opener on Tuesday when they host Johnson State at 6:00 p.m.

Meaghan Harden earned a double-double with game highs in points (36) and rebounds (15) to lead the Seahawks to the win. Harden nearly had a double-double before halftime with 22 points and a game-best eight rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

Elizabeth Knox scored the game's first points on a jumper at 19:21. The Seahawks did not get on the board until Harden swished a three-pointer at 17:36.The teams exchanged the lead nine times over the first 15 minutes.

Rachel Crews hit a three at 13:30 to put the visitors up one (9-8). Three free throws for Salve Regina preceded the first field goal for a Seahawk other than Harden - a three-pointer by Mary Eden at 9:52 for a five-point lead (14-9). Sabrina Weeks started a 7-0 run for Middlebury with a three. Sarah Kaufman added a high-arcing shot for two points during the run.

Crews gave Middlebury its last lead at the seven-minute mark, 20-19, before Madelyn Brackett's back-door layup at 5:17 returned the lead to the Seahawks and they never relinquished. Leading 30-25 at the break, Harden had all but eight of the Seahawk points.

Harden started the second half with a baseline jumper for the Seahawks who enjoyed a 16-8 run to open the period. After Laura Anne Dinan's layup gave Salve Regina its largest lead (46-33 at 11:20), Kaufman led the Panthers on a 13-4 run to get as close as four points (50-46 at 3:45). Alexis Coolidge converted a fast break layup during the run.

Harden had a pair of layups and then six more free throws down the stretch.

Kaufman had 12 points and 10 boards, Knox finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Weeks also netted 10.