Eighth-ranked Tufts (14-2, 3-1) went on a big third-quarter run, en route to a 61-45 win over Middlebury (12-4, 2-2) Saturday afternoon in Cousens Gym. The Panthers are off for a week before visiting NESCAC foe Williams next Saturday with a 3:00 p.m tip-off.

Tufts took a 10-4 lead early, going up 14-8 after one quarter of play. In the second quarter, trailing 19-13 at the 6:16 mark, Middlebury went on a 10-2 run, slicing the deficit to 23-21 with 3:27 remaining in the half. Betsy Knox scored six points during that period, going 4-4 from the free throw line. The Jumbos recorded the final bucket of the half, taking a 25-21 advantage into the halftime break.

Middlebury took the lead in the third on a three-point play from Maya Davis, possessing a 27-25 edge at the 7:50 mark. Tufts responding with a 16-2 run, going on top 41-29 at the 2:39 mark. Erica DeCandido went 5-5 from the line during that stretch with a three from Lilly Paro. The Panthers responded with eight of the next 13 points, four of them from Sabrina Weeks, trailing 46-37 after three quarters.

Leading 49-39 with 7:16 remaining in the game, the Jumbos went on a quick 7-0 spurt to gain some breathing room with a 56-39 advantage at the 3:12 mark. DeCandido hit a two and a three during the run, as the Jumbos came away with the 61-45 win.

Knox paced the Panthers with 12 points and six rebounds, while Davis added nine and Weeks chipped in with seven.

Emily Briggs led all scorers with 16 points, while DeCandido added 15 with a game-high 10 boards.

The Jumbos turned 27 Middlebury turnovers into 25 points in the game, as neither team shot well from long range (Middlebury 1-10, Tufts, 3-16).