POTSDAM, N.Y.- Middlebury College (9-5) holds off second half surge by SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (1-10) to take the 65-53 victory over the Bears on Tuesday night. Junior forward Katie LaVoie (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) recorded her first double-double of her career with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while senior captain Bailey Weigel (East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville East) led Potsdam's scoring with 17 points.
 
The teams went basket-for-basket the opening five minutes of the contest before the Panthers offense started to roll. At 14:28, Middlebury's Elizabeth Knox drained a 3-pointer to take the lead and the Panthers followed that with a 22-9 run to get their lead to 16. Middlebury had a 29-13 advantage at the break. 
 
The Panthers kept their foot on the escalator through much of the second half, but the Bears wouldn't go away. Weigel knocked down a three to get Potsdam within seven with two minutes remaining. The teams traded free throws the next minute of play before a Megan Driscoll (Troy, N.Y./Troy) layup cut the Panthers' lead to six. Despite the pressure, Middlebury went 6-6 in the last 45 seconds of the game, from the foul line, to take the 65-53 win.
 
Senior guard Veronica Sapp (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) added nine points with five boards and Driscoll tossed in six points.
 
Potsdam returns to the hardwood this weekend when the Bears take on SUNY Cortland on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Oswego State Saturday at 4 p.m. at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium.