CASTLETON, Vt. – Castleton suffered its first loss on the young season Friday night, falling to University of Maine-Farmington 76-72 in Glenbrook Gym.

The Spartans dropped to 5-1 on the year, and 1-1 in conference as they were outrebounded 44-29 and shot 36.8 percent from the floor. The Beavers moved to 2-4 overall with the win and 1-1 in conference play after shooting an impressive 50.0 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. 

Senior Ali Jones scored a career-high 20 points for Castleton by making seven of her ten shots from the field including three of four from beyond the arc.  Jones was helped by teammates Lindsay Sabo and Jade Desroches who had 16 and 13 points respectively. Desroches added four assists, four steals and three rebounds by shot just 5-for-21 overall. Bryanna duPont grabbed team-high six rebounds with nine points. 

Meghan Smith buried 11 of her 14 free throw attempts to finish with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Kelly Pomerleau added 15 points, including a 4-for-4 performance from downtown while Elizabeth Ferry had 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

The Beavers jumped out to a quick 17-8 lead midway through the fist quarter. However, Spartans clawed back behind the defensive presence of Ashlie Fay and Andrea Trudeau. The duo helped Castleton force six turnovers and go on an 11-2 run to tie the game 19-19 at the end of the first quarter. 

The second continued with back and forth play, as Castleton answered each of UMF's baskets through its balanced scoring. Desroches finished the quarter with five points including a jump shot in which she was fouled then made the free throw to complete the three point play and five the Spartans a 28-27 lead with 4:38 left. Castleton then led 34-31 before a 6-0 spurt by the Beavers gave them a 37-34 lead at the half. 

In the third, UMF led by just one, 52-51, with 2:40 to play when Sabo drilled her third three pointer of the night to give the Spartans a two-point advantage. Jones and Sabo helped pace the Spartan offense in the third, scoring 13 of the Castleton 20 points in the quarter as they trailed 55-54. 

The fourth quarter was back and forth throughout, and down by two with three minutes to play in the game, Desroches poked the ball away from a UMF guard and dribbled the length of the court to lay the ball in the basket for a 69-67 lead. The Beavers responded with the next nine points to take control, 76-69, as Castleton's lone basket in the final minutes came on a three at the buzzer from Jones. 

The Spartans return to action tomorrow when they play Thomas at 1 pm.