MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury University's (12-3) defense shut down the SUNY Potsdam women's basketball team (2-11) en route to a 72-36 win in Pepin Gym. Freshman guard Drew Dufrane (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) finished with 16 points to lead the Bears, while Kira Waldman matched her with 16 points and added four blocks.
 
Middlebury came out charging, taking a 17-2 lead in the game's first 7:54. Five different Panthers scored during the run, with five coming from the Colleen Caveney. The quarter closed with a 20-7 Middlebury lead, as Potsdam continued a brief run into the second quarter to make it a 20-10 game. Trailing 27-12 with 3:55 remaining, the Bears went on a 12-1 run that started with senior captain Meghan Driscoll (Troy, N.Y./Troy) draining a three. Potsdam cut the lead to 28-18 on a tip-in by junior forward Keme Fofana (Bronx, N.Y./A.E.C.I Charter H.S.) with 1:04 left in the first half. Middlebury answered with a three from Waldman as the hosts led 31-20 at the break.
 
The Panthers put the game out of reach with an offensive outburst to begin the second half. Middlebury scored the first 15 points in the third quarter, taking a 46-20 lead. Dufrane had five of the Bears nine points.
 
Middlebury cruised from that point on, increasing its lead to a game-high 36 in a 72-36 final.
 
Dufrane paced Potsdam with 16 points, while Fofana added six points and six rebounds. Senior captain Patti Dorgler (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) finished with a team-high seven boards.
 
Sarah Kaufman scored 15 points in the victory, while Alex Huffman finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double and added four assists and three steals.
 
Potsdam will be on the road again this weekend. The Bears travel to SUNY Geneseo on Friday for a game at 7:30 p.m. and College at Brockport Saturday at 4 p.m.