MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury College's Alexa Mustafaj registered 28 points and seven rebounds as the Panthers came from behind for a 77-72 NESCAC win against the Hamilton College Continentals inside Middlebury's Pepin Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 15.
 

How It Happened

• An 8-0 run by Hamilton pulled it into a 72-72 tie with the Panthers late in the fourth quarter. A pull-up jumper in the paint by Kendall Harris '27 with 1:08 left capped the spurt and brought a glimmer of hope to the Continentals.
• Middlebury made a jumper on its next possession and added a free throw with 12 seconds left for a 75-72 edge. The Continentals called a timeout and hoped to make one last basket that would send the game to overtime. Hamilton missed a three-pointer and Mustafaj sealed the win with two free throws.
• Hamilton came out hot and led 7-2 just 2:30 into the first quarter, thanks to two made free throws and a three-pointer by Althea Hill '26.
• Abbey Schwoebel '27 scored six of her seven points in the first quarter and helped the Continentals end the quarter with a 23-19 lead.
• Annabelle Semeter '28 ignited the Continentals in the second quarter when she scored 12 of her season-high 14 points, including a late layup and free throw that helped the Continentals go into the half with a 43-37 lead.
• Sam Glickman '25 extended Hamilton's lead to nine points out of the half with a jumper and a free throw with 9:13 left in the third quarter.
• Middlebury initiated the comeback off a layup by Augusta Dixon with 7:57 left in the third, kickstarting an 18-6 run that allowed the Panthers to pull ahead 55-52 with 2:35 left in the quarter.
• Despite a quiet third quarter for scoring, Mustafaj dished out her fourth assist to Calie Messina for a three-pointer and a 59-56 Middlebury lead going into the fourth.

 

Notes

• Harris chipped in 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double this season.
• Schwoebel registered a career-best eight rebounds and blocked three shots.
• Tessa Cole '25 dropped in 13 points, handed out a game-high six assists and made three steals.
• Glickman added 11 points, which was just one off her career best.
• Taylor Lambo '26, who averaged a double-double this season, was injured and did not play.
• Dixon contributed a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Panthers.
• Messina had 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.
• The Continentals shot 40.3 percent (25-62) from the field, including 5-of-12 from beyond the arc, and 81 percent (17-21) at the free-throw line.
• Middlebury grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and held a 43-34 advantage on the boards.
• After struggling in the paint in the first quarter, the Panthers were 7-of-14 and 9-of-19 from the floor in the second and third quarters, respectively. The team finished at 40 percent (28-70) from the field for the game.
• Middlebury has won the last eight meetings between the teams.

 

Season Recap

Hamilton finished its season with an overall record of 15-9. The Continentals tied for eighth place in the conference standings at 4-6.