The Middlebury women's basketball team has earned the seventh seed in the NESCAC Tournament. The squad travels to Maine for a matchup with second-seeded Colby on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

ABOUT MIDDLEBURY

• Middlebury will compete for the program's first NESCAC crown.
• The Panthers are making their 18th appearance in the conference postseason.
• During last season's tournament, the Panthers defeated Amherst (59-48) before falling to eventual champion Bowdoin (61-54) in the semifinals.
• Middlebury has made the conference championship game once in program history (2002).
• The Panther defense has been strong this season, ranking fourth in points allowed (58.4) and has held opponents to 36.9 percent from the field.
• Middlebury concluded the regular season with a 15-9 mark and a 5-5 record in conference action

• Alexa Mustafaj has been the spark plug of the Panther offense. She leads the team and conference in points per game (PPG) with 23.5 and has the most converted field goals (196). The Panther stands atop the program record book in total points (2,146), field goals made (800) and free throws made (395). She also became the first women's player in NESCAC history to reach 2,000 career points earlier this season.
• A force on both ends of the floor, Augusta Dixon paces the conference in total rebounds with 254 and is the only player to average a double-double, pouring in 11.4 points per game (PPG) and 10.6 boards. Shifting to the defensive side, Dixon recently became the program's all-time leader in blocked shots (119), while she has pulled down 200 defensive boards this winter.
• Calie Messina is another top contributor for the offense, tallying double-digit points in 10 contests this season and is second on the team with 40 assists.
• Playing in 23 contests this season, Kale Tornwini is a key player in the lineup. The Panther has tallied a 40.8 field-goal percentage and sits second with 100 total rebounds.
• Brooke Collins has started all 24 contests, tallying 49 rebounds, 23 assists and 18 steals.

• The Mules enter the weekend 13-10 overall and posted a 7-3 mark in conference action.
• Colby punched its ticket to its 16th NESCAC Tournament, earning the second seed for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• The Mules are seeking the program's initial conference crown and have advanced to the championship game on one occasion (2010).
• Colby's defense is a bright spot. The squad is second in rebounds given up per game in conference action (33.4) and third in points per game (58.2). 
• Free throws have been a key component for the Mules, as they lead the NESCAC in makes with 339 and third in free-throw percentage (73.9).

• Kate Olenik paces the Colby offense with 19.0 points per game and has 20 or more points in 11 contests. She is third in the conference in field-goal percentage (47.0) and field goals made with 150. Her 41 steals also lead the team.
• Lydia Mordarski is one of two Mules to start all 23 contests this season while leading the team in total minutes (775). The guard is second on the team with 10.2 PPG. She has also been lights out from the charity stripe, sitting second in the conference with an 82.5 free-throw percentage.
• A strong all-around contributor this season, Amelia Hanscom has put up 9.7 points per contest and leads the Mules with 7.0 rebounds per game. The forward also leads the charge with 51 assists this campaign.
• Chelsea Ibenegbu has started 16 contests, tallying 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

• The programs meet for the 40th time with Colby holding a 22-17 edge.
• The Mules grabbed a 75-72 overtime win earlier this season in Maine.
• It will be the third time the sides have met in the NESCAC Quarterfinals. Colby has a 2-0 edge in the series with the most recent matchup coming in 2017 (48-39).
• The other conference battle came in 2011 where the second-seeded Mules held on for a 67-64 victory over seventh-seeded Middlebury from the Pine Tree State.

• SCHEDULE
  • 2025 NESCAC Women's Basketball Championship
    Quarterfinals – Saturday, February 22 (at Higher Seeds)
    • No. 8 Williams at No. 1 Bowdoin – 2:00 p.m.
    • No. 7 Middlebury at No. 2 Colby – 2:00 p.m.
    • No. 6 Tufts at No. 3 Trinity – 2:00 p.m.
    • No. 5 Bates at No. 4 Amherst – 2:00 p.m.
  • Semifinals – Saturday, March 1 (at Highest Remaining Seed)
    2:00 p.m. | 4:30 p.m.
    • Highest Remaining Seed vs. Lowest Remaining Seed
    • Remaining Quarterfinal Winners
  • Championship – Sunday, March 2
    12:00 p.m.
    • Semifinal Winners
• Championship Central
• NESCAC Seeding Announcement