The Middlebury women's basketball team battled 12th-ranked Tufts (18-3, 7-2) on Friday evening in Pepin Gym, but the Jumbos scored seven of the last eight points en route to a 77-71 victory. Middlebury (11-10, 5-4) wraps up its regular season on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. home game against Bates, while the Jumbos play at Williams at the same time.

Trailing 5-2 in the opening stanza, Middlebury put together a 12-0 run covering 3:01 of play for a 14-5 lead on a jumper from Alexa Mustafaj with 4:53 remaining. The Jumbos moved to within 17-13 on a three-point field goal by Molly Ryan with 1:55 left. The Panthers outscored the visitors 7-2 over the remainder of the quarter, capped by a three from Bethany Lucey for a 24-15 lead. 

The hosts maintained that advantage early in the second quarter, securing a 32-24 edge on a layup by Claire Miller with 3:55 left. Tufts quickly pulled ahead behind an 11-0 spurt spanning 2:24, on a three by Maggie Russell for a 35-32 lead. A layup and three from Mustafaj in the final minutes propelled the Panthers into the break ahead 37-35.

Each team had small advantages for a majority of the third quarter before a 10-2 run gave the Jumbos a 57-49 lead in the final minute of the stanza. The Panthers headed into the fourth down by four (57-53) behind a pair of free throws and a layup from Mustafaj.

Tufts took a 60-55 advantage on a three by Erin Poindexter McHan with 7:28 remaining, before the Panthers regained the lead (63-60) behind a quick 8-0 run. Knotted at 70-70 with 2:17 left, a layup by Sofia and a free throw by Russell gave the visitors a 73-30 advantage. Mustafaj converted 1-of-2 free throws making the score 73-71 with 13 seconds showing, but Ryan made all four of her charity tosses for the final 77-71 score.  

Mustafaj led all players with 27 points to go along with three assists for the Panthers. The NESCAC's leading scorer has now scored in double figures in 17-straight contests. Augusta Dixon added 14 points and a team-best seven rebounds, while Emily Downer recorded 11 points and six boards.

Ryan paced Tufts with 20 points and chipped in with six rebounds, while Russell had a double-double of 18 points and a game-high 15 boards. Rosa also had a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Poindexter McHan posted 12 points.