FARMINGTON, Maine – The Spartans allowed just eight points over final 15 minutes of action to blow open a close contest and finish with a 59-38 victory over the University of Maine at Farmington on the road Saturday. 

Castleton allowed 76 points in an early season loss to the Beavers but were locked in on Saturday. The Spartans limited UMF to half its previous total, including 16 second-half points and just three during a 12-minute period spanning the third and fourth quarters.

Offensively, Castleton shot 40.3 percent from the floor and made six triples to improve to 17-4 and 12-2 in conference play. The Beavers tied a season-low with 38 points, made just 28.2 percent of their shots and turned the ball over 29 times as they fell to 11-9 and 9-4 in the North Atlantic Conference. 

Four different Spartans scored at least nine points, led by Jade Desroches and Bryanna duPont with 11 points apiece. Desroches had three rebounds and three assists while duPont added four rebounds. Lindsay Sabo did a bit of everything with nine points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals while Makayla Farrara chipped in ten points off the bench. 

Meghan Smith was the leading scorer for the Beavers with 13 points. The senior made 9-of-12 attempts at the line, recorded seven rebounds, and dished an assist. Kennadi Grover scored six points for UMF on 3-of-5 shooting and grabbed three rebounds. Cheyenne Malloy and Bridget Humphreyadded five points apiece with Humphrey charting a team-high nine rebounds. 

The Beavers led 6-2 early, before a 5-0 spurt gave the Spartans a 7-6 advantage midway through the first. The teams drew even at 10 apiece and then 12-12 on a jumper by Farrara with 2:33 left. A Smith free throw in the final 67 seconds gave UMF a one-point lead and 13-12 lead after one quarter. 

Five points from Desroches put Castleton back in front, 16-13, three minutes into the second. The team's traded baskets over the remainder of the period, though Farrara connected on a shot from downtown with 1:08 left for a 25-22 advantage at the half. 

Amanda Beatty scored twice in the first three minutes of the third to keep the Spartans in front, but UMF came back to take a 30-29 lead midway through the period. Castleton grabbed back the lead on a triple by Farrara and limited the Beavers to one point the rest of the quarter while scoring 11 for a 40-31 lead. 

The fourth was all Spartans as they extended their lead to 22 points with a 15-2 run over the first five minutes. duPont and Desroches then pushed it to 59-33 with 4:08 left, forcing a UMF timeout. Both teams subbed liberally in the final minutes as Castleton finished with the 21-point win. 

The Spartans return to action on Friday when they host Maine Maritime at 5:30 pm in Glenbrook Gym.