A big third quarter and a big effort from Amarionah Dixon (Elmira/Elmira H.S.)  powered the Panthers women's basketball team to a 64-49 win over North Country Community College Saturday. The Panthers improve to 5-2 on the season. North Country is now 4-6.

The start was painfully slow for the Panthers. North Country scored the first 10 points of the game and the home team didn't get on the board until the seventh minute of action. The Panthers cut into the deficit over the last three minutes of the quarter, but the Saints held a 16-10 lead after one period. The second quarter was more evenly played, with the Panthers cutting into the Saints' lead by a single point, making it 33-28 at the half.

Things changed dramatically coming out of the locker rooms for the second half. The third quarter started with the Panthers on an 18-1 run, taking the lead on a steal and layup by Dixon and racing to a 46-34 lead with 3:35 left in the third. The quarter ended with the Panthers in front 51-39, and the margin never fell below eight points in the fourth as the Panthers extended the lead over the final ten minutes of play.

Dixon had an historic day, posting her second triple-double exactly 10 months after her first. The sophomore finished with 15 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 steals while posting the seventh triple-double in program history.

Tahmeya King (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast H.S.) also had 15 points along with 4 assists and 4 steals. Beth ScabbyRobe (White Swan, Wash./Yakama Nation Tribal School) had a solid game with 14 points and 6 rebounds.

Looking ahead

The Panthers now head into the winter break. Next game will be in one month – a January 9 home game against Monroe Community College.