Middlebury topped Alfred State 70-52 in a non-league game Friday night in Pepin Gym. The Panthers (5-2) scored 24 points in the paint, while connecting on 23 shots from the free throw line en route to the victory over the Pioneers (4-3). Middlebury has a quick turnaround, hosting Skidmore on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. while Alfred State has eight days off before traveling to Houghton.

The Pioneers took their lone lead to open the game on a lay-in by Haley Witchella, as Middlebury ran off the next nine points including four free throws by Elizabeth Knox. Trailing 9-2, Briana Meehan knocked down the first of her game-high five three-pointers cutting the deficit to 9-5 with 14:30 left in the opening half.

Middlebury responded with a methodical run over the next seven minutes, building its first double-digit lead at 7:45 when Alexis Coolidge sank a lay-up for a 20-9 lead. The lead grew to a half-high 16 points on a three from Rachel Crews at 6:01 before Alfred State snipped the lead to 26-15 at the 4:10 mark. Witchella highlighted the counter with four points. The Panthers ended up taking a 31-18 lead into the break, holding a 25-15 advantage on the boards.

Middlebury opened the second half with a 9-0 run sparked by back-to-back buckets from Sabrina Weeks. Meehan stopped another 9-0 run with a three-pointer off an assist from Destiny Brito, setting the score at 40-21 with 17:30 left to play. The Panther lead hovered close to 20 points for several minutes before Alfred State answered with its own 9-0 run. Meehan started the burst with a three, followed by baskets from Witchella, Brito and Steffanie Preston slicing the Middlebury lead to 46-36 with 10:12 left to play.

Knox led a 7-0 Panther counter-punch, scoring four more points, to stop any Pioneer comeback chance. Middlebury built a commanding 53-36 lead at 7:33 and was not threatened down the stretch, holding on for the 70-52 win.

Knox led all scorers with 22 points, while collecting a dozen rebounds. Crews finished with 16 points, including four three-pointers, while Weeks added 13 and Coolidge grabbed a team-best 14 caroms. Five different Panthers had multiple assists, as Sarah Kaufman led her teammates with five helpers.

Meehan paced Alfred State with 15 points, all from behind the arc, while Witchetta added 10 and a game-high 16 rebounds before fouling out at the 6:29 mark in the second half. Brito led all players with seven assists and collected eight rebounds.

Middlebury won the game by 18 points, coincidently the same margin of free throws the Panthers made compared to the Pioneers (23 of 34 compared to 5 of 18).