The Middlebury women's basketball team returned from the semester break with a 48-41 road loss at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). The Trailblazers clamped down on Middlebury in the second half to earn the win at the Amsler Campus Center Gym. MCLA moves to 5-5 while the Panthers drop to 6-3.

The Trailblazers took control in the closing half holding the Panthers to just 13 points on 4-21 shooting. Middlebury was also hurt by 16 turnovers against the MCLA pressure, while the Trailblazers committed a season-low nine turnovers in the win.

The Panthers held a 28-22 lead at halftime, but came out of the locker room ice cold. A Krystina Reynolds free throw gave Middlebury a 29-22 lead, however the Panthers went scoreless over the next 10 minutes as MCLA crawled back into the game. 

A 10-0 run over that stretch gave the Trailblazers a 32-29 lead with 10:50 left to play. Middlebury would eventually tie the game at 32-32 when Reynolds hit another free throw and subsequent jumper with 8:56 remaining.

After trading baskets and the score at 36-36, MCLA took the lead for keeps on a Courtney Durivage free throw and Courtney McLaughlin's drive to the hoop made it 39-36 in favor of the hosts. Middlebury got within two on a pair of occasions, however each time MCLA answered.  The hosts closed out Middlebury by knocking down 5-6 from the line in the final minutes.

The Trailblazers came out firing in the opening half as they made their first four shots to jump out to an early 10-5 lead. Middlebury responded going on a 7-2 spurt to tie the game at 12 apiece.  The teams traded buckets until the Panthers made a run with the game tied at 16-16 to surge ahead. Middlebury went on a 12-2 run to take a 28-18 lead. The Panthers drilled three triples in the spurt. MCLA tallied the final four points of the half to cut the margin to 28-22 at halftime.

McLaughin kept MCLA close in the half tallying 10 of the Trailblazers 22 points. MCLA shot just 31% for the half after its opening surge. Middlebury's Elizabeth Knox scored 12 points in the half. 

McLaughin ended with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists for MCLA. Brayleigh Hanlon also had 12 points and pulled down eight boards. 

The Panthers were led by Knox's 12 points, while Reynolds ended the game with 10 points.