The Middlebury women's basketball team outscored Plattsburgh State 22-7 during Wednesday's third quarter to pull away for a 73-42 victory over the Cardinals.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury raced out to a 9-2 lead in the opening 3:11 of the first quarter, as Alexa Mustafaj scored all nine points on a trio of baskets and a three-point field goal.
• Plattsburgh State slowly chipped into the deficit, cutting it to one (12-11) on a layup by Selma Deisz with 3:26 left.
• The Panthers rattled off the ensuing seven points, taking a 19-11 advantage on a layup from Emily Downer nearly two minutes later.
• Middlebury continued to increase its advantage, as a jumper by Mustafaj in the final seconds gave the visitors a nine-point edge (23-14).
• Plattsburgh State sliced the Panther lead to seven on its initial possession of the second quarter on a driving layup by Imani Walcott.
• A three from Calie Messina on the next trip down the floor made it a double-digit contest, as Middlebury maintained that advantage over a majority of the stanza and took a 40-29 lead into the halftime break.
• Out of the locker room, the Panthers rattled off a 12-0 run spanning 3:52 of play, including four points each from Brooke Collins and Mustafaj, for a 54-31 advantage on a Downer layup with 4:46 showing on the clock.
• Middlebury saw its lead grow to 26 (62-36) in the waning seconds of the stanza on a layup from Katie Hollensteiner.
• The Panthers were never challenged in the final stanza, easing to a 73-42 final score.

NOTES

• Mustafaj finished with a game-best 27 points, marking the sixth time this season she has eclipsed the 20-point plateau and the 39th time in her career. 
• The junior went a perfect 4-4 at the free-throw line, pushing her streak to 34-straight charity tosses made over the last six games.
• Augusta Dixon posted her first double-double of the season and sixth as a Panther with a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with 10 points.
• Messina produced an all-around game at both ends of the floor, pulling down a career-best seven rebounds as well as 10 points, three steals and three assists. 
• The programs met for the 29th time with Middlebury holding a 19-10 advantage and the Panthers have been victorious in each of the last seven contests.

The contest wraps up the team's first-semester action, as Middlebury returns to competition on December 29 when they take part in the Stevens Holiday Classic and square off with the host Ducks at 3:00 p.m.