Middlebury Women's Basketball Crushes Norwich 80-36 in Home Opener
When the final buzzer sounded at Pepin Gymnasium on Tuesday night, the scoreboard told a story of dominance: Middlebury College women’s basketball, 80; Norwich University Cadets, 36. It wasn’t just a win — it was a statement. The Panthers, playing their first home game of the 2025-26 season, turned a tight early quarter into a blowout that left Norwich reeling. The game, tipped off at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on November 18, 2025, was the 62nd meeting between the two Vermont rivals — and Middlebury’s fifth win in the last seven matchups.
A Slow Start, Then a Storm
The Cadets didn’t come to get embarrassed. For the first five minutes, they played with grit. Cassidy Kittredge, a first-year guard, and sophomore forward Gracie Laster each knocked down two early buckets, giving Norwich a slim 10-9 lead with 4:51 left in the first quarter. Middlebury’s Sarah Chenette, a junior guard, kept pace with five of her team’s first nine points. But then, something shifted.
After Norwich scored the first basket of the second quarter, Middlebury went silent for a moment — then exploded. Led by junior forward Katie Lind, the Panthers unleashed a 9-0 run. Lind scored four of those points, and suddenly, the game was no longer competitive. The lead ballooned to 32-12 with 6:15 left in the half. The crowd, thin but loud, started to believe. And then came the dagger.
The Halftime Hammer
With 44 seconds left, Keeley Baglio, a senior guard, caught a pass from Molly Keaveney in the left corner. No hesitation. Up she went. Swish. The three-pointer made it 42-16. Lind and Baglio combined for 14 of Middlebury’s 19 points in that quarter. The halftime deficit wasn’t just large — it was psychologically crushing. Norwich had no answer for Middlebury’s ball movement, no answer for their defensive pressure. And worst of all, they looked out of sync.
“The sides traded buckets early,” read the official Middlebury Athletics recap. “Then the Panthers just… took over.”
Third Quarter Glimmer, Then Silence
Norwich didn’t quit. After halftime, Kittredge, Laster, and senior guard Jessie Zimmerman — the Cadets’ top three scorers — combined for six straight points in the first three minutes of the third quarter. It was their best stretch of the night. For a brief moment, it felt like a spark. But Middlebury didn’t flinch. The Panthers answered with a 16-7 run over the final eight minutes of the quarter, turning what could’ve been a tense finish into a formality.
Baglio added eight more points in the fourth, finishing with 12. Chenette and Lind each had 15. Grace Messina, a senior guard, nailed four three-pointers — her third career game with four or more. Five Panthers reached double figures. That’s not luck. That’s depth.
What This Means for Both Teams
For Middlebury, this was more than a season opener. It was a confidence builder. The Panthers improved to 1-0 at home and now head out on a two-game road trip, starting Saturday against Union College at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. They’re playing with rhythm, with trust, with the kind of balance that makes teams dangerous.
Norwich, meanwhile, is in trouble. They’re 0-2 after a 78-69 loss to Plymouth State on November 14 — a game they led by 11 points in the third quarter — and now this. A 44-point loss on the road? That’s not just a bad night. It’s a systemic issue. Their offense looked disjointed. Their defense, which held Plymouth State to 69 points, couldn’t contain Middlebury’s shooters. And their bench? Barely present.
They’ll face High Point University on November 22 — a team that’s already beaten Johnson C. Smith by 58 and Wofford by eight. The odds aren’t good. And if the Cadets don’t fix their turnovers and lack of offensive flow, the losses could pile up.
Behind the Numbers
- Middlebury shot 46% from the field compared to Norwich’s 27%
- The Panthers forced 22 turnovers, turning them into 28 points
- Norwich went 2-for-14 from three-point range
- Five Middlebury players scored in double figures; only three Norwich players scored more than six
- Katie Lind recorded a double-double — 15 points, 11 rebounds — her second of the season
“We knew they’d come out physical,” said assistant coach Matt Kods after the game. “But we matched their energy. And when we started moving the ball? That’s when we became impossible to guard.”
There’s no sugarcoating it: this was a textbook example of a team playing with purpose. Middlebury didn’t just win — they dismantled a rival. And they did it with poise, precision, and a depth that few Division III programs can match.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Middlebury’s defense manage to hold Norwich to just 36 points?
Middlebury’s defense applied constant pressure, forcing 22 turnovers and limiting Norwich to just 27% shooting. They switched effectively on screens, denied the paint, and contested every three-pointer. Norwich’s top scorers — Kittredge, Laster, and Zimmerman — combined for just 21 points on 7-for-26 shooting, a far cry from their usual output.
Why was Katie Lind so impactful in this game?
Lind scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading a 9-0 run in the second quarter that broke the game open. Her ability to drive into the lane and draw fouls, combined with her rebounding, gave Middlebury consistent second-chance opportunities. She’s now averaging 14.5 points and 9.8 rebounds through two games this season.
What’s the historical significance of this matchup?
This was the 62nd meeting between Middlebury and Norwich, with the Panthers holding a 43-18 all-time edge. They’ve won five of the last seven games, and this 44-point margin is the largest in the series since 2017. The rivalry, rooted in their proximity and similar academic profiles, remains one of the most heated in New England Division III women’s basketball.
How does this win affect Middlebury’s NCAA tournament chances?
While Division III doesn’t have a traditional tournament bracket, strong non-conference wins like this bolster Middlebury’s strength-of-schedule metrics for the NCAA selection committee. A 1-0 home record with a 44-point win over a regional rival sends a clear message: the Panthers are a contender in the NESCAC this season.
What’s next for Norwich University’s women’s basketball team?
Norwich continues its four-game road stretch with a matchup against High Point University on November 22 — a team that’s already won five games by an average of 32 points. The Cadets need to fix their offensive rhythm and reduce turnovers. If they don’t, their winless start could extend into January.
Who are the key players to watch for Middlebury this season?
Beyond Chenette, Lind, and Baglio, look for Grace Messina — who’s shooting 52% from three this season — and sophomore center Elena Ruiz, who’s averaging 7.2 rebounds per game. This team has five players scoring between 10 and 15 points per contest, making them hard to scout. They’re balanced, unselfish, and playing with chemistry.