Courtesy Middlebury Sports Information

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury capitalized on a 12-2 run during Tuesday’s second quarter and held a decisive rebounding advantage, easing to a 59-42 victory over Clarkson in Pepin Gymnasium. The Panthers (16-2) return to action on Thursday when they host the University of New England at 5:30 p.m., while the Golden Knights (5-10) visit Bard on Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Holding a 14-10 lead after one quarter, the Panthers rattled off a 12-2 spurt spanning the initial 4:59 of the second stanza, including five points from Betsy Knox. Maintaining a double-digit lead over the remainder of the quarter, Middlebury grabbed its largest advantage of the opening half at 37-19 on a three-point field goal from Emily Wander with 49 seconds left. A layup from Clarkson’s Carly Assimon on the ensuing Golden Knight possession made the score 37-21 at the halftime break.

During a low-scoring third quarter, Clarkson pulled to within 13 (39-26) on a three by Rachel Marion with 8:57 left. The Panthers tallied the next five points, gaining their greatest lead of the contest of 19 (47-28) on a pair of free throws by Knox in the waning seconds of the frame.

The Panther advantage ballooned to 52-28 with 7:06 remaining in the fourth quarter on a free throw from Colleen Caveney. The Golden Knights tallied 14 of the final 21 points of the contest for the 59-42 final score.

Wander led a balanced scoring attack for the Panthers with 12 points, while Catherine Harrison tallied a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Knox finished with a game-best 12 rebounds to go along with seven points, while Maya Davis had 10 boards and seven points off the bench. Alex Huffman ended the contest with five points to go along with team-high totals of five assists and three steals.

Molly Stewart paced the Golden Knights with a game-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds, while Marion added 12 points and three steals.

The Panthers, who possess the nation’s third-best rebounding margin (+15.8), doubled up Clarkson on the boards in Tuesday’s victory, 55-27. Middlebury held an opponent to 50 points of less for the 10th time this season.