CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton University women's basketball team got back in the win column in dramatic fashion Wednesday evening, opening Little East Conference action with a 56-54 win over Keene State at Glenbrook Gym.

The Spartans (6-1, 1-0 LEC) took a 4-3 lead just more than one minute into the game and never trailed again, though Keene State (1-7, 0-1 LEC) tied the game midway through the third quarter before Castleton took the lead for good. The Owls' had a chance to tie or win at the buzzer, but Hailey Derosia's jump shot clanged off the rim as the horn sounded on a two-point victory for the Spartans.

Castleton shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54) from the floor as a team, including a 50.0 percent (5-of-10) mark from three-point range. The Owls had a similar night shooting, going 19-of-48 (39.6 percent), but struggled from distance as they made just 3-of-13 (23.1 percent). Keene State narrowly won the rebound battle, 37-35, but Castleton outscored Keene in the paint, 30-24, and had 13 second-chance points to the Owls' three.

Brooke Raiche led all players with 24 points on the night, shooting 10-of-18 while grabbing six rebounds. Elise Magro joined Raiche in double digits with 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting, adding three boards and three assists along the way. Katlyn Toomey led on the glass with nine rebounds, while Kylie Wright added seven off the bench.

Keene State received a team-high 13 points from Tamra Gonyea on a trio of threes, while Arianna Hebert added 10 points off the bench. Jordyn Burke hauled in 10 rebounds for the Owls.

The two sides traded baskets throughout the opening minutes of the first quarter, as the teams hit the under-fine-minute media timeout all square, 9-9. Castleton took full advantage of the break, coming out of the timeout on a 7-0 run to go ahead 16-9—capped by a three from Raiche. Keene State ended the quarter with consecutive buckets, but Castleton still led 18-14 after the opening 10 minutes.

The Owls got as close as three points early in the second quarter after a three from Gonyea, but Castleton extended its lead once more as Raiche rattled off eight consecutive points for the Spartans to make it a 35-22 game with 3:24 to play in the half. The Owls bounced back once more, however, ending the half on a 6-0 run of their own—capped by another three from Gonyea—to make it 35-28 in favor of the home side at halftime.

The Owls came out of the locker room on a mission, opening the second half on a 12-3 run to make it a one-point game, 38-37. Just minutes later the Owls tied the game at 41-41, as Hebert knocked down a jumper to level the score. Castleton answered on the ensuing possession as Magro drove and converted on a layup to put Castleton ahead 43-41—a lead it never relinquished. The Spartans closed the quarter on a 7-2 run, leading 48-43 heading into the fourth.

The teams went back-and-forth for the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, with Castleton still leading by five—56-51—at the four-minute mark. The lead shrunk to two points after a layup by Hebert and a free throw by Gonyea, but Castleton held off the final charge as Keene State missed at the buzzer and the Spartans were victorious, 56-54.

Castleton returns to the hardwood Saturday at UMass Dartmouth at noon.