The Middlebury women's basketball team opened NESCAC play with a solid 77-65 home win over Colby on Friday evening. The Panthers (7-5, 1-0) are right back on the court Saturday, hosting #17 Bowdoin at 3:00 p.m., while the Mules 9-3, 1-2) head to Williams at the same time.

The opening quarter was tight throughout with no team taking a bigger lead than three points to go along with four ties. Adaobi Nebuwa gave the visitors a 14-11 cushion with 2:50 showing on the clock, but a three-pointer by Middlebury's Alexa Mustafaj knotted the score. Colby's Alexis Semidey-Martinez and Panther forward Claire Miller later exchanged buckets as the teams were tied 16-16 at the end of the frame.

With the score locked up at 22-22 in the second frame, Middlebury embarked on an 11-1 run to gain some breathing room. Mustafaj had five points in the burst, while Gianna Palli hit twice from the foul line for a 33-23 advantage with 1:55 left before the half. Mustafaj gave the hosts a double-digit lead at 35-25 with a basket, as the Middlebury led 35-27 at the break.

Colby made a push at the start of the third quarter with Keagan Dunbar driving the lane for a bucket and knocking down a trey to make it 35-32 contest with less than a minute expired. The visitors tied the game at 45-45, but the Panthers got a shot from behind the arc from Palli and a field goal from Miller to regain the lead. The hosts led 53-50 heading into the final frame.

Mustafaj converted a three-point play at the start of the fourth stanza as the Panthers slowly began to widen the gap. The difference went back to double figures (63-52) on a shot by Mustafaj with 4:23 to go, while the biggest lead of the game came in the final minute when Reagan McDonald tallied off a turnover for a 77-62 edge. Dunbar hit a three at the buzzer for the Mules, making the final 77-65.

Mustafaj led all scorers with 22 points on 9-15 shooting, while Palli went 7-8 from the charity stripe to finish with 15 points. Downer chipped in with a dozen points and Miller finished with 10 points and seven boards.    
  
Dunbar, a Middlebury Union graduate, paced the Mules with 19 points, while Chaimaka Ubani had a double double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Both teams shot well, as the Panthers shot 49.1 percent (28-57) and Colby connected on 45.8 percent (27-59) of their attempts.