The Middlebury women's basketball team suffered a 57-37 NESCAC road loss at #12 Tufts (12-3, 3-0) on Friday night. The Panthers (8-5, 1-2) hung with the Jumbos for three quarters, but the hosts pulled away in the fourth for the victory. Middlebury returns to action at Bates with a 3:00 p.m. start on Saturday.

Lay-ups by Colleen Caveney and Catherine Harrison along with a pair of free throws by Sarah Kaufman helped Middlebury tie Tufts at 10-10 after one quarter of play.

Tufts used a 10-0 run during the second quarter to take a 22-12 lead on a pair of free throws from Jacqueline Knapp with 2:20 to go until halftime. Maura Folliard netted the first two baskets of the run for Tufts, as the Jumbos led by 10 (24-14) at the half.

The hosts opened a 14-point lead (30-16) early in the third quarter on Emma Roberson's three-pointer. The Jumbos still led by 13 (34-21) on Roberson's jumper at 3:53, but Middlebury fought back. The visitors scored the next six points, four by Alex Huffman, and pulled to within seven (34-27) in the final minute of the period. Melissa Baptista hit a late jumper for the Jumbos, putting Tufts up by nine at 36-27 heading into the fourth.

Tufts outscored Middlebury 21-10 in the fourth quarter and pulled away, including seven points off Panther turnovers. Michela North had seven fourth-quarter points for Tufts and Dillon hit two of her three-pointers to lead the charge.

Caveney led Middlebury with 12 points and six rebounds on 4-5 shooting from the floor. Eileen Daley had eight points, 11 rebounds and two steals for the Panthers, while Huffman scored eight with five boards. The Panthers were held to just 21.6 percent shooting from the floor in the loss.

Lauren Dillon drained four three-pointers and led Tufts with 12 points, five assists and three steals. North finished with her fifth straight double-double, recording 11 points and 15 rebounds to go with three assists and two points. Baptista had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the Jumbos.