The Middlebury women's basketball team rattled off an 11-4 run during Saturday's second quarter and maintained a double-digit advantage before pulling away for a 72-47 home-opening triumph over Union.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The opening quarter featured both teams holding small leads throughout before a jumper by Alexa Mustafaj with 14 seconds left gave the Panthers a 15-13 lead after 10 minutes of action.
• Middlebury opened the second stanza with a 9-2 run spanning 4:25, grabbing a 28-19 advantage on a three-point field goal from Mustafaj.
• The Garnet Chargers pulled to within seven (30-23) on a pair of free throws by Claudia Porto with 4:04 left before halftime.
• Later in the quarter, Keeley Baglio rattled off the next five points on a three and two charity tosses to push the Panther lead to 35-23 with 2:26 showing on the clock.
• Union continued to move closer, as a layup from Jelena Perovic in the waning seconds brought the visitors to within eight (36-28) at the break.
• The third quarter started with a shot from beyond the arc by Calie Messina to give Middlebury a double-digit lead (39-28). 
• The hosts maintained that edge over the remainder of the stanza as a jumper by Messina with three seconds left pushed the Panther lead to 55-41.
• The Garnet Chargers sliced the deficit to 13 (58-45) with 8:29 left on a layup by Jenna Forman.
• Middlebury locked down over the final minutes, outscoring Union 14-2 and limiting the visitors to 1-11 shooting to cruise to the 72-47 triumph.

NOTES

• Mustafaj posted a game-best 22 points and tied her career high with eight rebounds to go with four assists.
• Messina finished with a season-best 18 points, knocking down a trio of shots from beyond the arc.
• Augusta Dixon tallied her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds, giving her 18 for her career.
• Baglio matched her career-high total with six rebounds and added nine points.
• The programs played for the 32nd matchup with Middlebury possessing a 22-10 advantage. The Panthers have won three straight and five of the last six.

Middlebury returns to action on Tuesday with a 1:00 p.m. home contest against Vermont State University Castleton.