The Middlebury College women's basketball hung with No. 7 Tufts for much of the first half during NESCAC action Sunday afternoon in Pepin Gym, but the Jumbos produced a late surge in the final minutes of the first half and never looked back en route to a 70-44 victory. The Panthers return to the court Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. when they host to Colby-Sawyer, a team the blue and white defeated on November 17th, 59-43.

Tufts (12-0, 1-0) scored the game's first five points on a pair of free throws from Hayley Kanner and a three-pointer from Hannah Foley. Middlebury responded with the next seven points, including a pair of lay-ups from Elizabeth Knox, and led 7-5 with 15:33 left in the first half. The two teams traded baskets over the ensuing minutes with Tufts owning a slim two-point edge, 21-19, with 4:01 left. The Jumbos closed the half on an 11-2 run and possessed an 11-point bulge at the intermission, 32-21.

Middlebury (5-7, 1-1) cut the visitor's lead to 10 (40-30) on a free throw make from Laura Lowry at the 15:29 mark. Tufts recorded 16 of the game's next 18 points and put the game out of reach as the Jumbos cruised to the win.

Individually, Knox led Middlebury with 13 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Scarlett Kirk recorded her second-consecutive double-double consisting of 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Additionally, Lowry also finished in double figures with 12 points. Tufts featured a balanced attack that was led by Michela North with 11 points in just 15 minutes, while Caitlin McClure, Liz Moynihan and Kanner each added eight markers. Kanner also dished out a game-best seven assists.