FARMINGTON, Maine – The Castleton University women's basketball team continued its hot start to the season Saturday, defeating Thomas College by a final score of 59-43 at the UMF Tip-Off Tournament in Farmington, Maine.

Castleton moves to 3-0 on the young season, while Thomas is now 0-4 after the loss. It marks the fifth consecutive year Castleton has won its first three games dating back to the 2015-16 season.

Castleton shot 38.3 percent (23-of-60) as a team while holding Thomas to just 30.4 percent (14-of-46) from the floor. The Spartans made just 2-of-9 from three, while the Terriers buried 5-of-17 from distance. Both teams were outstanding at the free-throw line, with Thomas knocking down 10-of-11 (90.9 percent) and Castleton making 11-of-13 (84.6 percent). Castleton won the rebounding battle 37-32, and turned it over 13 times compared to Thomas' 21 turnovers. Castleton dominated the paint, outscoring Thomas 34-14 inside on the afternoon.

Elise Magro led all players with 20 points on 10-of-18 shooting (55.6 percent). She also added three steals and two assists. Brooke Raiche had a strong all-around performance with 15 points and seven rebounds, and made each of Castleton's two threes on the day. Emilee Bose reached double digits with 10 points on 5-of-10 from the floor, while Katlyn Toomey pulled down 10 rebounds in the win. Alexis Quenneville added eight points, four assists and three steals while making each of her four free-throw attempts on the day. Kylie Wright was a force on the glass off the bench, pulling in seven rebounds along with four points in 19 minutes of action.

Thomas was led by Kaylee Ravagli's 18 points as she made 5-of-12 from the field including 4-of-10 from three. Addie Brinkman added eight points and six rebounds, while Anna Piirainen pulled in a team-leading eight rebounds for the Terriers.

Castleton had a strong opening quarter, leading 21-12 after the first 10 minutes powered by 10 points from Magro and seven points from Raiche. Castleton more than doubled its lead in the second quarter thanks to a 10-0 run to start the frame. Quenneville and Bose had four points each in the four-minute stretch to open the quarter. Castleton pushed the lead to as many as 22 points when Magro dropped in a layup to cap a quick 5-0 run for the Spartans with 4:36 to play. Castleton carried a 19-point lead into the break, 40-21.

Thomas opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run behind a three, a layup and a pair of free throws, but Magro stopped the bleeding with a jumper in the paint before Wright knocked down a jumper of her own. Thomas whittled the lead down to nine by the end of the third quarter, 44-35.

The fourth quarter began with back-to-back layups by Bose and Magro to push the lead back to 13, but Thomas brought it back to single digits at the midway point, 52-43, after Ravagli's fourth three of the day. Castleton then went on a 7-0 run, capped by Raiche's second three of the day with 3:08 to play. Neither side scored in the final three minutes, as Castleton held on for the win.

The Spartans return to action next weekend at the Granite City Shootout at the Barre Auditorium in Barre, Vermont. Castleton will face NVU-Lyndon at 3 p.m. Friday and NVU-Johnson at 4 p.m. Saturday.