MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury shot 67 percent from the floor in the second half to earn a 75-59 victory over the Connecticut College women's basketball team in the NESCAC opener for both schools at Pepin Gymnasium on Friday evening.

The first quarter featured five ties and three lead changes. But after Middlebury ended the frame with a slim one-point lead, the Camels doubled up the hosts and outscored them by an 18-9 margin over the next 10 minutes to take control of the game. Sophomore Ashley Howe (Saco, Maine) set the tone by sinking a 3-pointer to put her team back ahead and then hit another shot from long range to make it 27-21 with 6:29 left. Sophomore Nancy Coulverson (Queens, N.Y.) set up junior Kylie Caouette (Ashburnham, Mass.) for a trey, and the Camels carried a 36-28 advantage into the break.

Connecticut College built up a 10-point lead early in the third when freshman Casey Walsh (Phoenixville, Pa.) sank a pair of free throws, but the pendulum swung in the opposite direction and in favor of the Panthers. Betsy Knox hit a jumper with 3:24 remaining to spark a 15-0 run which carried over into the fourth, and the Camels would never recover. Despite tying the game at 52s when senior Mairead Hynes made a jump shot with 7:29 on the clock, Knox answered on the other end to keep the hosts ahead for good.

Maya Davis led Middlebury (10-2, NESCAC 1-0) and fell just short of a double-double with 18 points and nine boards. Alex Huffman finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds to go along with five steals, while Knox ended the game with 16 points and six assists.

Hynes contributed a team-leading 13 points to pace the Camels. She also grabbed five rebounds. Sophomore Sami Ashton (Clinton, Conn.) notched 11 points and three assists.

Connecticut College (7-3, NESCAC 0-1) continues NESCAC action on the road when it visits Williams tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.