Losses keep women’s basketball from playoffs

Following two losses this weekend, the Middlebury women’s basketball season has come to a close.  The Panthers played Trinity away on Friday and suffered a tough loss of 65-46 to the Bantams.  The women’s team had spent all week preparing and as a team felt ready for the competition.

“It wasn’t for lack of effort—the game just didn’t come together for us,” said guard Brittany Perfetti ’12.  The women’s basketball team was simply not able to execute in the Trinity game, which could have secured their chances for a postseason bid.  The game began as a close contest, but Middlebury was down by 10 at halftime.

“We didn’t hit shots, big or small, and we weren’t able to execute on the offensive or defensive end,” said Perfetti of the team’s loss to Trinity.

The loss to Trinity placed Middlebury in a position where it would
have to beat Amherst, ranked number one in the nation, in order to continue its season.  Despite disappointment from its result on Friday, the team approached its final regular season game against Amherst ready to compete.

The Panthers, aware of Amherst’s strong record and high ranking, anticipated the match would be a tough contest.  The Panthers saw this contest as an opportunity to play the number one team in the nation and see where they stood in comparison. Although the match ended with Middlebury losing 79-46, the game was not handed to Amherst easily.  Middlebury was intense and focused, and played to win throughout.

“It wasn’t a close game, but we held our heads high and fought hard, which may not be reflected in the score,” said Perfetti.

Middlebury’s final game against the Lord Jeffs was not only for the seniors, or for the team, but also for the Middlebury program itself.  The Panthers ended their season with a desire and competitiveness that cannot be faulted.  The match against Amherst was seen as a positive experience and a good lesson for next year.

“We can reach and become our own version of a strong and dominant Amherst team,” said Perfetti.

The Panthers ended their season with a record of 10-14, slightly better than last year’s record of 8-15.   They finish in ninth place in the NESCAC league, falling just short of earning the eighth seed for the upcoming league tournament.  However, something that will not be reflected in any available scores or statistics is the way that the team feels about its season.  This season, despite tough losses and setbacks, has been a positive one for Middlebury women’s basketball and is moving the program in the right direction.

“Our outlook, the way we think of the game and the way we interact as a team has improved so much, and has such a different feeling from past years,” said Perfetti.  She attributes much of this change to the impact that three seniors have had on the program.   Kaitlyn Fallon ’10, Alana Wall ’10, and Hudziak ’10 will leave the program having greatly changed the team dynamic.  In particular, Fallon’s leadership as a captain is something that has shaped this season.

“Words can’t describe the time and energy that they have invested in the program from last spring until Saturday,” said Perfetti.  It was incredible, and has definitely changed the standards we set for ourselves for the better.”

The team will take some time off before beginning informal practices and looking ahead to next winter.