BOSTON, Mass. – The Castleton University women's basketball team dropped a Little East Conference road contest on Monday night, falling by a final score of 78-55 at UMass Boston.
The Spartans (8-6, 2-4 LEC) shot 35.7 percent as a team (20-of-56) overall and 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from three, while UMass Boston (4-8, 3-3 LEC) knocked down 41.0 percent (25-of-61) from the floor. The Beacons managed just 26.3 percent from three (5-of-19), but made 23-of-32 at the line as a team. Castleton hit 11-of-13 at the line, tying a season-best percentage. The Beacons dominated the glass, outrebounding Castleton 52-21, leading to a 25-8 edge in second-chance scoring.
Elise Magro led the Spartans with 18 points and three assists, while
Kelly Vuz added 16 points for Castleton.
Ryleigh Coloutti chipped in with eight points and a team-high four rebounds.
Delaney Whitehead also had eight points for Castleton, while
Olivia Perry added five points.
Meg Dixon carried UMass Boston, setting a school single-game record with 35 points. She added 14 rebounds and three assists. Jasharee Greene also had a double-double, netting 17 points with 12 rebounds.
UMass Boston opened with a three to start the game as Dixon got on the board early, but Magro responded for Castleton with a three of her own to knot the game at 3-3. After a pair of free throws for the Beacons, Magro again leveled the score with a jumper for the Spartans. The Beacons then went on a 10-2 run—the only Spartan points during the stretch coming from Magro once again—before Whitehead stopped the skid with a pair of free throws. A 5-1 run to end the quarter by the Beacons sent the home side to the second quarter leading 20-10.
Coloutti opened the second quarter with a layup for the Spartans, but an 11-0 Beacon run pushed UMass Boston ahead 31-12. Castleton answered with an 11-2 run narrow the deficit back to 10 points, but the Beacons again took control to end the quarter on a 7-2 stretch for a 40-25 halftime lead.
Castleton outscored the Beacons 10-7 over the first five minutes of the second half, but a 6-0 run later in the quarter by UMass Boston pushed the gap to 17 points, 59-42. Three free throws by Vuz to end the quarter drew Castleton closer, but the Beacons opened the fourth with seven straight points to set the lead at 21. A three-point play by Whitehead snapped the skid before Whitehead hit a three on the next possession for Castleton as well. The Beacons closed out the game with six straight points to seal the final score, 78-55.
Castleton is back in action Wednesday night at home against NVU-Lyndon at 6 p.m. Fans are allowed, but are required to wear a mask or other cloth face covering at all times while in the facility.
