The Middlebury women's basketball team came up on the short end of an 89-82 contest at Emmanuel (15-7) on Thursday night. The Panthers (12-9) return to action on Sunday, when they host Wesleyan in a NESCAC contest at 2:00 p.m.

Emmanuel jumped out to a 7-1 lead, before Middlebury battled back to make it a 9-8 game on a bucket from Maya Davis at the 3:40 mark of the first quarter. The Saints later went on a 5-0 spurt and held a 25-17 lead after the first 10 minutes.

Back-to-back threes from Claire Miller and Reagan McDonald made it a two-point game (25-23) at the 8:24 mark of the second quarter. The Panthers knotted the game at 29-29, but the hosts closed the half on an 11-3 run to hold a 40-32 advantage at the break.

Leading by five (52-47), Emmanuel scored 10 of the final 12 points in the third quarter, extending its lead to 62-49.

The Saints stretched the margin to 17 (75-58) at the 5:56 mark of the fourth quarter, before the Panthers went on a 7-0 spurt. Alana Kornaker hit a two and a three as Middlebury trailed 75-65 with 3:58 remaining. The Panthers kept coming, making it an 84-78 game on a three from Sullivan with 45 seconds remaining, but that's as close as they came, as Emmanuel held on for the 89-82 win.

Betsy Knox led a balanced attack with 16 points, Miller and McDonald each scored 13, while Kornaker added a career-best 10 points. Kira Waldman finished with nine points, seven rebounds and five assists, while McDonald dished out five helpers.

Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda led all scorers with 23 points and 17 rebounds, Jamad Fiin scored 17, while Riley Lahiff added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Emmanuel held a 41-32 rebounding advantage and shot 47.7 percent from the floor. Middlebury concerted 20-21 free throws in the contest.