MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (January 6, 2026) – Middlebury College held Emerson College to a season-low scoring total on 34-percent shooting in securing a 69-44 decision in a non-conference women's basketball matchup at Pepin Gymnasium this evening.

Sophomore Sarah Chenette led Middlebury to its third-straight win with a game-high 16 points in 15 minutes of play. Junior Keeley Baglio was the only other player in double-figures with 11 points in ten minutes off the Panthers bench on 4-of-5 shooting, and three rebounds. First-year Islay Moore contributed seven points and a game-high eight rebounds with three blocked shots, while senior Gabby Stuart  chipped in eight points, five boards, two assists an two steals.

Senior Bri Frongillo saw her double-figure scoring streak halted at 21 games with a team-high eight points for Emerson, adding two rebounds and a steal. Sophomore Jessie Silk added seven points and a team-high six rebounds with a steal, while junior Kaylin O'Meara chipped in six points, six boards and three steals.

Middlebury scored the first seven points of the contest as Chenette followed a three-pointer from senior Calie Messina with four-straight points. Emerson finished the opening quarter strong, using a 10-2 run behind five different scorers, to take the lead (14-13) after junior Claire English scored a layup off a Panthers turnover.

Middlebury took over from there, outscoring Emerson 42-17 over the middle two quarters, including 21-6 in the second, to take control. The Panthers limited the Lions to 7-of-29 (24%) shooting over the second and third quarters, while connecting at 55-percent (17-31) themselves in that span. After trading baskets for the first two minutes, Middlebury reeled off a 17-0 run to open a 16-point lead (34-18) after a three from junior Emma Kirck with 16-seconds remaining in the half.

Frongillo broke up an eight-minute Emerson scoring drought with a jumper just before the halftime buzzer and then opened the second half scoring with a layup to draw the Lions back within 12 (34-22). Silk connected from three-point range to pull the Lions back within 11 (36-25) with 8:23 to play in the third quarter, but they would get no closer. Middlebury followed with a decisive 17-2 run, sparked by four-straight points from Chenette while Baglio also scored four, to open a 26-point cushion (53-27) with 1:36 remaining in the third and would not look back.

Noteworthy

• Middlebury shot 45-percent from the floor and made 9-of-10 free-throws in the contest, while Emerson finished shooting 34%, including 2-for-11 from three, marking its fourth-straight game under 40-percent from the floor.
• The Lions hit 6-of-11 shots (54.5%) in the fourth quarter, including their lone three-point try.
• The Panthers held a 44-26 rebounding advantage, marking the fourth opponent to outrebound Emerson, while posting a 20-9 scoring margin in points off turnovers and an 11-4 edge in second chance points.
• Despite her double figure scoring streak dating back to last season ending, Frongillo was Emerson's high scorer for the 41^st time in her career.
• Frongillo made her 50^th career start tonight, while Silk started her 20^th-straight game.
• Silk led the Lions in rebounding for the eighth game this season (10^th career), while O'Meara was their high rebounder for the second time in her career.
• English matched her season-high with four blocked shots for the third time this season.
• Emerson's 44 points is its lowest scoring output since 40 points at Springfield College last February.

Up Next
Emerson (8-5, 0-0 NEWMAC) will have seven days off before it aims to get back on track at Worcester State University on Monday at noon. The Lions will then return home for the first time in over a month to open NEWMAC play on Saturday, January 17, by hosting Salve Regina University at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium at 1 p.m. Middlebury (9-3, 0-0 NESCAC) opens its conference schedule at No. 18 Trinity College on Friday at 7 p.m.

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