CASTLETON, Vt. – Norwich's Heath LeBlanc connected on a baseline hook shot with just 0.5 seconds on the clock to break a tie and lift the Cadets to a 53-51 victory over Castleton on Saturday afternoon at Glenbrook Gym. 

The Spartans trailed by as many as 12 points in the final five minutes of regulation, however, they came back to tie the game 51 apiece in the final 40 seconds on a three from Jade Desroches. With the final seconds winding down, Norwich's Shyann Josler launched a three for the win, but Desroches blocked the shot and it squirted out of bounds with just 2.7 seconds left.

Norwich then inbounded the ball to LeBlanc on the block and she took a dribble before getting off a hook shot with just 0.5 seconds remaining. Castleton was able to advance the ball to halfcourt on a timeout, but a last-second attempt went short and wasn't off before the buzzer sounded.

With the loss the Spartans drop to 8-2 on the season while Norwich improves to 7-4 overall. Castleton finished the game at just 29.4 percent shooting with ten turnovers, but did force the Cadets into 17 turnovers and 30.2 percent shooting overall. 

Lindsay Sabo led the team with 16 points and five rebounds while Desroches added 14 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists. Bryanna duPont, meanwhile, was solid with four points, three rebounds, three steals and two blocks. 

LeBlanc led two Cadets in double figures with 13 points and nine rebounds, with none bigger than her final two points. Adrianna Harrison added ten points, six rebounds and three assists but played just 23 minutes due to foul trouble. Emily Oliver, meanwhile, chipped in eight points, five rebounds and two assists off the bench. 

The Spartans came out firing in the opening minutes, building a 9-1 lead, punctuated by a three from Sabo at 6:23. However, Norwich closed the gap and pulled in front 12-11 on a triple from Shyann Josler with 2:37 left. The teams traded baskets over the last two minutes and Makayla Farrara made a triple with six seconds left for the 16-15 advantage. 

In the second Castleton built its lead to 23-19 midway through the period, however, they were shut out the rest of the period. The Cadets came back to take a 24-23 lead at the half as Harrison scored a layup with one second left after Farrara blocked a three-point attempt before the buzzer. 

The third quarter was back-and-forth, before an 8-2 spurt by Norwich made it 39-33. The Cadets went into the fourth leading 40-35 and extended their advantage to 46-35 early in the period on shot from downtown by Josler. 

With 4:31 left, LeBlanc connected on a free throw for a 49-37 Norwich lead. Farrara jumpstarted the comeback with a three just 13 seconds later and after one made free throw from LeBlanc, Desroches made a three to cut the deficit to 50-43. Farrara then scored a fast break layup and Sabo drilled a triple to make it just 50-48 with 2:37 left. Desroches eventually tied the game up with 36 seconds left, setting up the final sequence. 

Castleton returns to action on Tuesday when the team hosts No. 16 Williams at 7 pm.