Middlebury, VT - Colby Women's Basketball traveled to Vermont on Friday to face the Middlebury Panthers in their third game of the NESCAC season. The Mules fell to the Panthers, with a final score of 65-77. 

The first quarter was competitive for the two teams. Most points scored were quickly responded to with a shot from the opposing team to tie up the game. Middlebury picked up their momentum in the second quarter, though, after entering the period with a 16-16 tie. The Mules kept their score close to the Panthers for the first half of the quarter, capturing an early lead and tying back up with the Panthers after they retaliated with two three-pointers. The Panthers rallied in the second half of the quarter, though, landing ten points and expanding their lead to eight to enter the second half with a score of 27-35. 

The Mules fought back at the start of the second half, landing seven points and closing the Panthers' lead to two points in the first two minutes. Despite pushback from the Panthers, once again engaging in heavy back-and-forth with the Mules, the game was tied back up by a jumper by Keagan Dunbar '22 in the sixth minute. The Panthers once again rallied, scoring eight points while holding the Mules to five, and entering the final quarter with a score of 50-53. The Mules had a tough time fighting back in the final quarter, scoring two points in the first six minutes while the Panthers expanded their lead. Despite the 13 points scored in the remaining four minutes and a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Dunbar, the Mules were unable to stifle the Panthers. 

The game ended with a final score of 65-77. Dunbar and Adaobi Nebuwa '24 led the Mules in points scored, landing 19 and 14 points, respectively. Chiamaka Ubani '22 led the team in rebounds, recovering ten and making up over a quarter of total rebounds. This proved beneficial for the Mules, who outscored the Panthers in second chance points. 

The Mules are next set to travel to face the Williams College Ephs on Saturday, January 15 at 3PM EST.