POTSDAM, N.Y.- The Middlebury Panthers (8-4) defeated the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (1-10) Tuesday night at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. The Panthers pulled away in the third quarter to take the 65-45 victory over the Bears. Freshman guard Abbey Smith (Bainbridge, N.Y./Bainbridge-Guliford) led Potsdam with 11 points. Fellow guards, freshman Alex Huffman (Lynn, Mass./KIPP Academy) and sophomore Rachel Collins (Bedford, N.H./Bedford) each scored 16 points and had three rebounds with Huffman also grabbing four steals for Middlebury.
 
Momentum was even throughout most of the first quarter. After a go ahead 3-pointer at 3:25 from Smith, the Bears were up by three. Following the shot, Middlebury went on a tear that carried over into the second quarter after three from freshman guard Amanda Bayer (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) at the 2:09 mark. Sophomore guard Eileen Daley (Hanover, N.H./Hanover) closed out the run with a layup at 6:14 to go in the second quarter. Play evened out once more to take the teams into halftime with the Panthers leading 33-22.
 
The Bears stumbled in the third quarter only scoring eight points with Smith having six out of the total.  Middlebury added to their lead and took the 51-30 score into the final quarter.  Junior guard Laura Coleman (Manhattanville, N.Y./Opportunity Charter) ignited some offense for Potsdam with a fast break layup and freshman forward Victoria Shopovick (White Plains, N.Y./Maria Regina) followed it with another made layup. The 9-3 run was capped with a bucket from the free throw line from freshman guard Janay Smith (Bronx, N.Y./Wings Academy), but the Panther held on for the 65-45.
 
Junior forward Patti Dorgler (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Malloy) and Janay Smith each finished with eight points and Dorgler nabbed seven boards.
 
Three different Panthers finished close to double digits on the night, including Daley, who was just one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds, freshman guard Colleen Caveney (Andover, Mass./Andover) had nine points, three assists, three steals and grabbed six boards and Bayer rounded out the team with nine points.
 
Middlebury edged Potsdam 35-33 rebounds.
 
Potsdam will hit the road this weekend when they head south to take on SUNY Cortland on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Oswego State Saturday at 2 p.m.