CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton University women's basketball team never trailed and led by as many as 14 points Saturday, cruising to victory over rival Norwich in the season-opening contest at Glenbrook Gym.

The Spartans open the year with a 1-0 mark, while Norwich sits at 0-1 after opening day. Castleton knocked down shots at a 37.9 percent clip, while Norwich shot 36.7 percent from the field. Both sides shot nearly the same from long range, with Castleton knocking down six threes to Norwich's five. Castleton struggled at the line, knocking down just 10-of-22, but the difference came in quantity as the Cadets had just four foul shots on the day.

The Spartans won the turnover battle, as Norwich committed 23 turnovers to the Spartans' 15, and Castleton converted those turnovers into 22 points on the other end of the floor. Both teams scored 18 points in the paint, while Castleton had an 8-4 edge in fast-break points. The Norwich bench was responsible for 22 points, while Castleton's bench had just six points on the afternoon.

Alexis Quenneville and Elise Magro had 17 points apiece in the victory, as Quenneville knocked down four threes on the day. She also dished out three assists and grabbed two rebounds. Magro, making her collegiate debut, chipped in four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block while shooting 6-of-13 from the floor. Brooke Raiche joined the duo in double digits, scoring 12 points in addition to five assists and two blocks. Katlyn Toomey led the way on the glass with a game-high 11 boards, followed by Emilee Bose who had nine rebounds in addition to her six points.

Norwich was paced by 13 points from Sandra Carlsten off the bench, while Riley Bennett and KristieAnn DeSilvio added 10 points apiece. Caileigh Travers and Kailynne Frederick had eight rebounds apiece and Carlsten and Bennett had four assists each for the Cadets.

Castleton jumped out to an early lead in the contest, with Magro scoring on the first possession of the game. The lead swelled to six points after a layup by Raiche, before hitting double digits for the first time—12 points—on a three from Quenneville with 4:18 to play in the first quarter as Castleton led 16-4. The lead was 11 after the first quarter, with the Spartans on top, 24-13.

Castleton got out to its largest lead of the afternoon at the midway point of the second quarter, when a Quenneville jumper gave the Spartans a 32-18 edge. Norwich closed the gap to just six points at the break, 36-30.

The Cadets opened the second half on a 7-1 run, tying the game at 37-37 three minutes in on a layup by Frederick. A free throw by Magro with 5:30 to play in the quarter gave Castleton the lead once more, a lead they never relinquished. A pair of free throws by Raiche grew the lead to 42-37 late in the quarter, and Castleton carried a 46-39 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Leading by three with 6:30 to play, Magro hit a pair of free throws to jump start a 12-2 run that pushed the home side ahead by 13, 58-45. The Cadets would not go quietly, as a pair of quick baskets pulled Norwich back within eight, 58-50, with two mintues to play. A jumper by Magro put Castleton ahead 60-50 with just 42 seconds left, before a Bennett jumper gave the game its final score, 60-52.

Castleton hits the road Friday and Saturday, November 15-16, to take on UMaine Farmington and Thomas College in the UMF Tip-Off Tournament in Farmington, Maine. Tip-off against the Beavers Friday is slated for 7:30 p.m.