Scarlett Kirk scored 20 points and pulled down 18 rebounds, as the Panthers received some clutch free-throw shooting and broke a five-game skid with a 59-55 non-conference road win at Keene State on Tuesday night. Middlebury returns to action on Friday night when they host Colby at 6:00 p.m.

The majority of the opening frame was a back and forth battle between the two teams. Keene's Christan Wojta hit a three-pointer at the 13:42 mark to give the Owls an 11-4 lead, but the Panthers responded with a 9-2 run of their own to tie the game at 13-13.

The Owls responded with a 14-6 burst to end the first half with a 29-21 lead. Wojtas and Ryanne Williams were the high scorers at the half with eight points apiece.

The Panthers clawed back to start the second half. At the 10:40 mark, Laura Lowry caught fire hitting three-straight three-pointer to go along with a Rachel Crews' jumper at 9:09 and gave the Panthers a 44-37 lead. The Owls appeared to regain momentum when they tied the contest at 44-44 on a Stephanie D'Annolfo coast-to-coast layup with 7:26 on the clock.

Each team went on a run over the last seven minutes of the game, but two Elizabeth Knox free throws with 59 seconds remaining put the Panthers back in front 55-54. Wojtas hit the front end of a double bonus, but the Panthers pulled down the rebound off the second attempt, brought the ball over halfcourt and called timeout with 37.1 seconds remaining. Kirk scored her biggest basket of the night on a layup with 18 seconds left to give the Panthers a two-point lead.

With 12 seconds remaining, Cognetta brought the ball over half and got a decent look at a layup, but the ball rimmed out. Nikki Stacy got an offensive rebound and found Carly Kiernan for another good look, but again the ball rolled out. Kirk pulled down the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled by Kiernan.

At the line for two shots, she hit the first but missed the second. Knox pulled down the rebound and was immediately fouled. Knox went 1-2 from the line, making it a two-possession game at 59-55.

Knox aided Kirk's effort with 11 points, followed by Lowry and Crews with nine apiece.

Wojtas led the Owls with 15 points, going 4-9 from three-point range. Kiernan finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Keene State controlled the boards with a 53-36 advantage, while Middlebury led 21-6 in points off turnovers.