MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- No. 13 Bates women's basketball led wire to wire Sunday afternoon, defeating Middlebury College, 64–57, at Pepin Gymnasium to improve to 18–2 overall and 5–1 in NESCAC play.

Bates set the tone immediately, opening the game on a 10–0 run over the first 2:43 as Elsa Daulerio scored six for the Bobcats' during that stretch. Middlebury missed its first seven field-goal attempts as the visitors held the Panthers to 2-for-16 shooting in the opening quarter, while building a 24–10 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.

The Bobcats extended the margin to 36–19 late in the second quarter following an Abby Magendantz three with 46 seconds remaining. Bates hit on 14-of-29 from the floor (48%) in the first half while limiting the Panthers to just 17% (5-for-30) heading into the break.

Middlebury (11-9, 2-4 NESCAC) responded out of the intermission, scoring 22 points in the third quarter and trimming the Bates lead to six, 47–41, on a Catherine Carrafiello layup with five seconds left in the period. The home team shot 72.7 percent from the field during the frame.

Daulerio scored 10 of her game-high 27 points in the fourth period to help Bates maintain a cushion. After Middlebury closed within four at 48–44 early in the quarter (8:49), Bates fired off an 8-2 spurt to go up 56–46 with 6:03 remaining.

The Bobcats sealed the win at the free-throw line down the stretch, going 9-for-13 in the fourth quarter. Sophie Spolter converted four straight free throws in the final 43 seconds to put the game away.

Ending the day within one point of her career-high (1/31/25 vs. Williams), Daulerio finished 11-of-14 from the field with seven rebounds and a pair of blocks. Lily Brown added eight points in 13 minutes off the bench, while Lily Lambo chipped in seven points and three steals. Bates held a 37–33 rebounding edge in the win.

Winners of five straight, the garnet and white returns home to host Trinity College (15-6, 4-3 NESCAC) Friday at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym.