CASTLETON, Vt. – Castleton saw its double-digit lead evaporate in the second half but the team never lost the lead and got a game-saving block from Meghan O'Sullivan in the last second to secure a 58-55 win over Bates in the last game of the Rutland Herald Tip-Off Classic on Sunday afternoon. 

The Bobcats trailed 58-55 with just nine seconds left as Bryanna DuPont stepped to the line for the first shot of a one-and-one. She missed the free throw and Bates raced the ball up the court. The team swung it around the perimeter looking for an open shot before Kristin Calvo was forced to hoist a three from the top of the arc with time running out. O'Sullivan read the play and leapt at the attempt, getting a few fingers on the ball as it fell harmlessly short of the basket.

The Spartans used their defense to secure the win as they held the Bobcats to just 28.1 percent shooting for the game and without a field goal over the final 5:10. Castleton finished at just 39.0 percent shooting for the game after making 5 of 25 attempts in the second half. The Spartans did outrebound Bates 48-41 as they improved to 2-0 with the win. The Bobcats dropped to 1-1 as they forced 15 Castleton turnovers which turned into 14 points. 

Tournament MVP Jade Desroches led the offense with 17 points and seven rebounds but went 7-for-20 from the floor. O'Sullivan was picked to the All-Tournament team after putting up 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. DuPont was solid with ten rebounds, three assists, two points and zero turnovers in 30 minutes. 

Bernadette Conners led the Bobcats with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting with four triples. She also added 12 rebounds in earning a spot on the All-Tournament team. Molly Brown was in double figures with 15 points but went just 3-for-18 from the floor and Allie Coppola added 11 points, ten rebounds, four assists and three steals. 

Castleton jumped out to a 9-3 lead on a trio of triples, including two from Lindsay Sabo in the opening 92 seconds. The team extended its lead to 19-9 on a triple from Desroches with 13:13 left in the half. A personal 6-2 run by O'Sullivan made it 25-14 minutes later and Makayla Farrara extended it to 29-19 at 7:42 with a three. Bates responded with a 7-4 run to cut the lead to 33-26 with 3:27 left in the half, however, the Spartans outscored the Bobcats 10-2 over the final three minutes to go up 43-28 at the break. 

The second half was a different story as a 9-4 run made it a ten-point game less three minutes into the period. At 10:44 Chelsea Nalon trimmed the deficit to 49-42 on a triple and four minutes later Connors hit another shot from beyond the arc to make it just 54-49. Desroches was fouled and made one of two free throws on Castleton's ensuing possession but back-to-back jumpers by Brown and Calvo put Bates back just 55-53 with 5:10 remaining.

Molly Brown eventually tied the game at 55 apiece on two free throws, but Desroches came back with a layup for the two-point lead with just 2:59 left. The Bobcats missed their next three shots and Desroches went 1-for-2 from the line at 1:38 for the 58-55 advantage. Bates' best chance to tie it up came as Brown launched a pair of threes with 21 and 12 seconds left. Neither fell and DuPont eventually secured the rebound and was fouled to set up the final sequence. 

Junior Ali Jones had just nine points but added five rebounds, three assists and a block while playing tough defense for 36 minutes. Sabo chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds.

The Spartans return to action on Thursday when they host Middlebury at 7 pm in Glenbrook Gym.

All-Tournament Team
Gianna Youngblood - Elms
Nicole DeMarchena - Mt. Holyoke
Bernadette Conners - Bates
Meghan O'Sullivan - Castleton
Jade Desroches - MVP - Castleton