Springfield, Mass. – December 31, 2024 – The Springfield College women's basketball held off a late rally by Middlebury College and defeated the visiting Panthers, 67-61, in double overtime in the opening game of the 2024-25 Fairfield Inn & Suites Enfield Naismith Classic on Tuesday afternoon in Blake Arena.

Springfield, which earned its sixth straight win and third win of the season over a team from the NESCAC, improved to 8-3, while Middlebury suffered just its third loss of the year and is now 7-3 this season.

Springfield was led by Angie Czeremcha (West Springfield, Mass.) as she registered her fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 19 boards to go along with four steals. Claire Finney (Haverhill, Mass.), who knocked down the game-tying shot with seconds left on the clock to send the contest to the second overtime session, finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists, while Carrie Hess (Shrewsbury, Mass.) posted her first collegiate double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Alexa Mustafaj guided Middlebury with 31 points – over 50-percent of the Panthers points this afternoon – while Augusta Dixon posted ten points and six rebounds in the setback.

Springfield stifled Middlebury in the middle quarters as the Panthers posted just 13 combined points as the Pride held a 37-24 lead after 30 minutes of play. The Panthers, however, knocked down eight shots from the floor including four from behind the arc outscoring the Springfield, 24-11, over the final ten minutes of play to force overtime.

Middlebury slowly chipped away at its deficit in the fourth quarter and after a 15-6 run that was capped on a trey by Mustafaj, made it a four point game with 3:35 remaining. Czeremcha answered with a layup of her own to push Springfield's edge back to six, but just minutes later Mustafaj buried another shot from behind the arc to make it a one possession game with under a minute to play. After missed free throws allowed Middlebury the ball back, Mustafaj attempted to tie the game, but her shot was swatted away from Finney. Unfortunately, Calie Messina grabbed hold of the ball off a pass from Mustafaj and knocked down the game tying shot as time expired in regulation to send the contest to an extra period.

In the first overtime, both teams hit their first two shots as Hess knocked down a jumper and Finney drove into the paint for a layup. From that point on, with both teams in the bonus, neither needed shots to drop from the floor as it was free throws until the final shot. Middlebury went 4-for-6 from the free throw line in the first overtime, while Springfield went 1-for-2. 

Another block by Finney on a shot by Mustafaj gave Springfield the ball back with 30 seconds remaining trailing, 56-53. Kassidy Carrano (West Haven, Conn.) missed her game-tying attempt, but an offensive board by Hess fed the ball back out to Carrano at the top of the key. Carrano shoved the ball to her right to the hands of Finney, who buried a deep trey knotting the score at 56-56 sending the game into a second overtime session.

Middlebury raced out to a four point edge in the second overtime before a layup from Amanda Leary (Westbury, N.Y.) and two free throws by Finney tied the score at 60. Gabby Stuart then stepped to the line for the Panthers and only hit one of her two shots giving Springfield a chance to capitalize and the Pride did just that.

With 1:28 left, Leary hit both of her free throws and Lindsey Laughlan (Ellington, Conn.) added a third before Carrano found Laughlan in the paint for an easy layup and a four point lead, 65-61. Czeremcha then hit both ends of her free throw attempts after she ripped the ball out of the hands of Mustafaj as the Pride held off Middlebury, 67-61.

Despite only converting on 6-of-17 free throw attempts today, Czeremcha broke the single game program record for most free throw attempts in a game. The previous record holder was Anita Thomas from the 1982 season against Siena.

Springfield has now won four straight contests against Middlebury dating back to the 2021-22 season.

Springfield will face Tufts University tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 pm in game four of the Naismith Classic in Blake Arena. Earlier today, Tufts defeated Ithaca College, 57-42. The Bombers will face Middlebury at 12:00 pm in game three.

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