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Will Costello

Panthers Continue Pursuit of Program’s First NESCAC Title

The Middlebury women's basketball team celebrates during its 59-48 victory over Amherst in the NESCAC Quarterfinal.
The fourth-seeded Middlebury women's basketball team continues its pursuit of the program's first NESCAC Title when it takes on top-seeded/#11 Bowdoin on Saturday in semifinal action. The Panthers and the Polar Bears tip-off at 2:00 p.m., followed by third-seeded Bates and second-seeded Trinity at 4:30 p.m.
 
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY
  • Middlebury advances to the second round for just the fifth time in program history and for the second-consecutive season.
  • The Panthers hosted fifth-seeded Amherst on Saturday, pulling away for a 59-48 quarterfinal victory.
  • The program is making its 17th appearance in the tournament and looks to advance to the championship contest for the second time (2002).
  • Middlebury has a potent defense, ranking first in the NESCAC with 9.32 steals per game (SPG) and second allowing just 51.8 points per game (PPG).
  • The squad holds an impressive 10-1 record on the road this season and an 11-3 overall mark since the calendar flipped to 2024. 
PANTHERS TO WATCH
  • The Panthers pack a powerful one-two punch, with Alexa Mustafaj leading the offense and Augusta Dixon doubling up on both ends of the court.
  • Mustafaj became Middlebury's all-time leading scorer during the quarterfinal contest, as she now has 1,606 points in her career. The Panther leads the NESCAC and ranks eighth in the country with 23.6 PPG. Her single-season point total of 567 is sixth in Division III and ranks third all-time at Middlebury. Mustafaj is also seventh in the country with 201 made field goals and first in the NESCAC in three-pointers (2.0 per game).
  • Dixon has been a force this season, pacing the conference as the only player to average a double-double with 11.9 rebounds per game (RPG) and 11.1 PPG. She has pulled down 10 or more boards in 16 contests, while totaling 10 double-doubles. This season, Dixon has recorded career-highs in points (34), rebounds (24) and blocks (five).
  • In Middlebury's NESCAC Quarterfinal win, Calie Messina led the squad with 19 points. The Panther has tallied double-digit point totals in four-straight games, and nearly nabbed a double-double in the regular-season finale (15 points, nine rebounds). Messina is first on the team and seventh in the conference in steals, averaging 1.7 per contest (42 total).
ABOUT BOWDOIN
  • Bowdoin earned the top seed for the eighth time in program history, and has qualified for all 22 conference tournaments.
  • The Polar Bears are seeking their 10th NESCAC Title, and currently leads the league with nine.
  • The program has advanced to the championship contest on 12 occasions, most recently in 2020 when Bowdoin claimed the crown. 
  • The Polar Bears rank first in the conference in a plethora of categories including field goal percentage (42.3), points (1,708), scoring margin (15.9), scoring offense (68.3), three-point percentage (32.7), threes per game (6.6) and winning percentage (92.0). 
POLAR BEARS TO WATCH
  • Sydney Jones leads the team in scoring (16.3 PPG), rebounding (6.8 RPG), assists (3.2 per game, 80 total) and steals (1.7 per game, 45 total). The Polar Bear is shooting 82.1% from the charity stripe, which ranks third in the conference. Jones has recorded five double-doubles this season, including in three-straight games heading into Saturday's contest. 
  • Calie Godfrey contributes on both ends of the floor, averaging 10.2 PPG and 4.8 RPG. The forward has posted double-digit points in 13 contests, while also tallying a double-double this season. 
  • From beyond the arc, Maria Belardi trails only Mustafaj, sitting in second in the NESCAC averaging 1.8 threes per game (45 total). 
SERIES HISTORY
  • The Panthers and the Polar Bears meet for the 45th time on Saturday. Earlier this year, Middlebury nearly knocked off Bowdoin, coming up just short as the Polar Bears earned a 68-65 win.
  • The teams have met four times in the tournament, and twice in the semifinals, as the Panthers look to grab their first postseason win over Bowdoin. 
ABOUT TRINITY
  • Trinity is making its 16th appearance in the tournament and its sixth-straight.
  • The Bantams earned the second seed for the first time in program history.
  • Trinity advanced to the semifinals with a 51-35 defeat over seventh-seeded Colby.
  • The program is looking to advance to the title tilt for the first time.
  • The Bantams lead the conference in scoring defense (51.1) and free throw percentage (.748).
  • Reilly Campbell leads Trinity in scoring (14.6 PPG) and rebounding (8.5 RPG), while the senior paces the conference in field goal percentage (.549).
  • The Bantams and the Panthers have played each other 32 times. Middlebury's lone road loss this year came at Trinity on February 3. 
ABOUT BATES
  • Bates earned the third seed for the first time since 2007 and is making its fourth-consecutive NESCAC Tournament appearance.
  • The Bobcats are seeking their first conference crown, having advanced to the championship contest once back in 2002.
  • Bates advanced to the semifinal round with a 66-50 triumph over sixth-seeded Hamilton.
  • The Bobcats lead the conference in blocked shots (6.04 per game) and are tied for second in scoring margin (11.7).
  • Elsa Daulerio is an all-around threat for Bates, pacing the squad in rebounding (7.3 RPG), block shots (2.1 per game) and is second in scoring (13.3 PPG).
  • Middlebury and the Bobcats played for the 40th time this season when Bates was ranked 25th in the country. The Bobcats came away with the 65-54 win, evening the all-time series at 20 wins apiece. 
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
  • Championship Central
  • All ticket information can be found in this release, with general public ticket sales starting on Tuesday at noon.
The winners of each of the semifinal games will play for the championship on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
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