PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. –
Elise Magro continued her torrid start to the 2023-24 season on Saturday, dropping 28 points with five rebounds and five steals to help lead Vermont State University Castleton to a 65-59 victory over host Plattsburgh State at the Cardinal Classic.
A much-anticipated matchup this season that pitted first-year head coach
Kathleen Payne against her alma mater in the gymnasium where she played her collegiate basketball, the Spartans improved to 3-2 on the year with the victory while Plattsburgh falls to 2-2 overall. Castleton shot 45.6 percent from the field and 30 percent from three. Plattsburgh was held to 35.9 percent overall and 20.0 percent from long range. The Cardinals made 9-of-9 at the free throw line while Castleton hit 10-of-17.
Magro's impressive stat line saw her shoot 11-of-20 from the field and hand out four assists as well.
Liz Bailey contributed 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting—a welcome sight for the Spartan offense. Bailey also grabbed seven rebounds.
Kathryn Moore,
Stasia Epler and
Emily Adams had six points each with Moore tying Bailey's team-high seven rebounds. Shcuylar Nolan contributed five points and two boards in 16 minutes off the bench.
Payton Couture had 20 points and nine boards for Plattsburgh, followed by Imani Walcott's 16 points and nine rebounds. Julia Greek scored nine points for the Cardinals.
VTSU Castleton got off to a slow start, falling into an 11-0 hole in the first four minutes before ending the first quarter with a 17-10 deficit. The Spartans adjusted well in the second quarter, opening the frame on a 6-0 run to cut the gap to a single point after two buckets from Bailey and one from Magro. The Spartans took their first lead of the game after baskets from Nolan and Magro made it 20-19 Castleton. The lead went back-and-forth for a number of minutes, with Plattsburgh pulling ahead 29-24 after a 6-0 run of its own. Castleton hit back with six unanswered points going into halftime to lead 30-29 at the break.
The Spartans dominated the third quarter, closing the frame on a 9-0 run to open up a 12-point edge going into the final 10 minutes. In total, VTSU Castleton outscored the Cardinals 20-9 in the third, with 11 points from Magro and six from Bailey. Epler splashed a three that jump-started the final run in the quarter.
The Cardinals did not go away easily, however. Despite pushing its lead to 14 points on the first possession of the final quarter, Plattsburgh began a furious comeback attempt minutes later. Castleton led 60-47 with less than five minutes remaining when the Cardinals started a 7-0 run that slashed the lead to just six points. A four-point burst two minutes later made it a two-point game with 10 seconds remaining thanks to a three-point play by Plattsburgh. Adams hit a pair of clutch free throws to extend the lead to four points, and Plattsburgh turned the ball over on its next possession to give the Spartans some breathing room. Magro hit a pair of free throws with five seconds left to seal the victory, 65-59.
VTSU Castleton hosts in-state foe Middlebury College on Tuesday night at Glenbrook Gym. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. in the Spartans' final game before a week-long Thanksgiving break.
