PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Castleton University women's basketball team's return to Little East Conference action ended with a 68-49 defeat at the hands of Rhode Island College on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans fall to 6-6 on the year and 1-2 in LEC play after their fifth consecutive loss, while Rhode Island College sits at 10-1 on the year and 3-0 in conference play. The Anchorwomen shot 46.6 percent in the game, making 27-of-58 from the floor, while Castleton made 17-of-56 for a 30.4 percent rate. Castleton drilled 6-of-14 from three (42.9 percent) with Rhode Island College making 4-of-19 from distance (21.1 percent). The Anchorwomen controlled the glass, hauling in a 46-29 edge in rebounds—including a 16-10 advantage in offensive boards. The Anchorwomen converted those offensive boards into 10 second-chance points, and had a 27-14 edge in points off turnovers.

Emilee Bose scored a game-high 17 points for Castleton, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and hitting both three-point attempts. Brooke Raiche added 11 points and nine rebounds on the afternoon, while Elise Magro chipped in with nine points and three assists. Alexis Quenneville hit a pair of threes and finished the day with seven points.

Willcia McBorrough notched a double-double for RIC, finishing with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Sophia Guerrier had a team-high 13 points, with Brooke Young and Fataya Larry adding 12 points each. Jordan Gauvin chipped in with six points and six assists for the Anchorwomen.

Castleton faced an early 11-point deficit in the opening quarter, trailing the Anchorwomen 16-5 with 3:31 to play in the frame after an 11-0 run by Rhode Island College. Quenneville drilled a three to stop the bleeding, sparking a 13-0 run for Castleton that ended with a three by Raiche. After trailing by double-digits late in the frame, Castleton took an 18-16 lead into the second quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, the Anchorwomen again put together a lengthy run, taking a 34-28 lead following a 10-1 run. Castleton cut the lead to four with less than a minute to play after a three by Quenneville, but a pair of late free throws by McBorrough sent RIC into the locker rooms ahead 39-33.

The Anchorwomen continued to pull away in the third quarter, outscoring Castleton 15-8 in the frame to extend its lead to 54-41 heading into the fourth. Bose had a pair of threes in the quarter, including one on the final possession of the frame for the Spartans.

The final frame went much like the third, with Rhode Island College continuing to build on its lead. RIC led by as many as 21 points late in the contest, but Castleton notched a late bucket from Olivia Perry to give the game its final score of 68-49.

Castleton is back in action Thursday against Plymouth State at Glenbrook Gym. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.