The Middlebury women's basketball team trimmed a 17-point halftime deficit to four with 2:56 remaining, but could not pull off the comeback in a 64-57 setback to #13 Bates on Sunday from Pepin Gymnasium.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Bobcats jumped out to a 17-4 lead with 4:39 remaining in the initial quarter. Elsa Daulerio led the charge with eight points.
• A free throw by Margot Newman sparked an even split of the next 12 points before a charity toss from Ava James with 34 ticks left made the score 24-10 after 10 minutes.
• Bates and Middlebury traded buckets throughout the opening 6:49 of the second stanza. The Panthers held a slim 9-8 edge over the span, while the Bobcats held a 32-19 lead.
• The guests ended the quarter with four unanswered points, capped by a three-pointer from Abby Magendantz at the 0:48 mark to take a 36-19 advantage into the locker room.
• Middlebury found its footing to commence the second half. Calie Messina and Molly Keaveney had five points apiece, powering a 10-6 run spanning 3:54 that cut the deficit to 42-29.
• The Panther offense continued to hum. A reverse layup by Catherine Carrafiello with five seconds left capped a 15-5 run, setting up a six-point ballgame (47-41) heading into the fourth.
• Bates flipped the script to begin the final stanza, logging a 9-5 blitz to rebuild a 56-46 lead with 6:03 remaining.
• Middlebury continued to hang around. Teagan Lind converted a three-point play to cap seven of eight points and trim the lead to 57-53 at the 2:56 mark. 
• The hosts could not get any closer down the stretch as Bates secured the 64-57 triumph.

NOTES

• Keaveney tallied a career-high 13 points and secured five rebounds. Lind joined her teammate in the double-digit club with 11.
• Emma Kirck had five rebounds and two assists.
• The programs met for the 42nd time with Bates holding a 22-20 edge in the series.

Middlebury continues its three-game homestand on Friday, hosting #7 Bowdoin at 7:00 p.m.