STRONG SECOND HALF LIFTS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OVER MIDDLEBURY, 65-43

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury saw it's 27-23 halftime lead over Emmanuel turn into a 38-28 deficit early in the second half as the Saints spoiled the Panthers' home-opener with a 65-43 road win at Pepin Gym. Emmanuel (4-1) came into the game hitting just 1-23 three pointers, but connected on 5-14 from long distance, hitting on 29-54 from the field, while holding the Panthers (1-2) to 14-50 shooting for the game.

The Panthers, who did not trail in the first half, held a 19-8 advantage midway through the half as Sarah Marcus netted eight points during the run, including a pair of threes, while Siobhan O'Sullivan added seven more. The Saints rallied with an 8-0 burst, highlighted by threes from Shania Rentie and Jessica Halford, cutting Middlebury lead to 19-16 with 8:33 left in the opening half. Marcus scored the next six points for a 25-16 Panther cushion before another Emmanuel three, this one from Devin Rauh, made it a two possession game at 4:47. The Saints could get no closer than four points in the closing minutes of the half as Middlebury to a 27-23 lead into the break.

Rentie connected on hit Emmauel's fourth three to open the second half to make it a one-point game.  That trey jump-started a 15-1 run for the Saints as Middlebury went ice-cold from the floor. The Panthers missed their first eight shots, and peppered in four turnovers, before Katie Pett converted a traditional three-point play at 13:37, setting the score at 38-31 for the visitors.

Liz Daley capped the long-ball scoring for the Saints, answering Pett's three points, that started a 13-3 run. Holding a 51-34 lead with 6:44 left, the visitors cruised to a 65-43 victory.

Marcus finished with a Middlebury-best 16 points on 6-15 shooting, while Pett finished with seven points and five rebounds. O'Sullivan also chipped in seven as Laura Lowry added six and a team-high five assists.        

While Rentie hit 2-4 from long distance for six points for Emmauel, the dozen points apiece from Jennifer Bujnowski (6-8 shooting) and Lena Negri (5-8 shooting) highlighted the Saints' scoring as the duo netted 20 of their combined 24 points in the decisive second half. Britni Mikulanecz finished with eight points and a game-high six assists.

The Saints return to action on Tuesday, November 26 when they host Brandeis University in non-conference play at 7:00 PM.

*Release courtesy of Middlebury College Sports Information Dept.