PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Spartans led 20-9 after the first quarter and extended their lead to 26 in the third quarter on the way to a 63-42 victory over Plymouth State on the road Tuesday evening. 

Castleton had three players score in double figures while locking down on defense to improve to 4-0 overall. The Spartans shot 45.3 percent from the floor and went 7-for-18 from beyond the arc while holding the Panthers to just 27.8 percent from the field. Castleton also outrebounded Plymouth State 39-35 in the contest as the hosts dropped to 0-4 overall. 

Junior Lindsay Sabo went 4-for-5 from beyond the arc on the way to 14 points, two rebounds and one steal. Seniors Jade Desroches and Bryanna duPont also had 14 points apiece with Desroches adding five rebounds and three assists while duPont totaled four rebounds and two steals. Taylor Raiche added five points, six rebounds and three blocks off the bench. 

Ace Lawrence led the Panthers with 11 points and four rebounds while Annaliese Schmidt contributed six points and ten rebounds. Debra Morrill added six points and three rebounds off the bench. 

Plymouth State actually led 4-2 after two minutes, but a duPont jumper ignited an 11-0 run to grab a 13-4 advantage midway through the quarter. Castleton extended its lead to 20-6 on a Raiche jump shot with six seconds left, before Lawrence connected on a three at the buzzer to make it an 11-point game. 

The two teams traded baskets over much of the second quarter before a 7-0 spurt, capped off by a Farrara layup, made it 35-17 with 2:36 left. Castleton extended their lead to 19 but two Panther baskets in the final 70 seconds of the half put the visitors in front 38-23 at the break. 

Sabo got the Castleton scoring with a three early in the quarter as the Spartans opened the period on an 11-3 run to pull in front 49-25. Lawrence ended the scoring drought with a free throw at 3:14 and the Panthers concluded the quarter on a 11-8 run to trail 57-36 at the conclusion of the third. Each team scored six points in the fourth as Castleton emptied its bench for the final ten minutes on the way to the 21-point victory 

The Spartans return to action on Dec. 2 when they travel to face New England College at 5:30 pm in a rematch of the last year's North Atlantic Conference Championship.