CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University women's basketball team went back-and-forth with UMass Boston on Wednesday night, falling 57-55 in the Spartans' home finale at Glenbrook Gym.
The Spartans trailed 22-15 after a high-scoring first quarter, but bounced back with a 14-5 edge in the second to take a 29-27 lead into halftime. The Beacons came out of the locker room with a 22-14 advantage in the third to lead 49-43, but Castleton fought back in the fourth, holding the Beacons under 10 points once again. It wasn't enough, as UMass Boston held on in the final seconds for the 57-55 final.
Liz Bailey had a double-double for the Spartans, dropping 17 points with 10 rebounds. She also had three blocks.
Elise Magro had 10 points and four assists to go with three steals, and
Emily Adams,
Stasia Epler and
Maggie McKearin chipped in eight points each.
The Spartans (10-14, 4-11 LEC) shot just 26.8 percent as a team from the floor with only three connections from long distance. VTSU Castleton was bolstered by 22 made free throws on 32 attempts. The Beacons (5-18, 3-13 LEC) hit 32.3 percent from the field with four threes and 13 free throws on 18 attempts.
Keriann Farina and Paige Olliverre led the Beacons with 15 points apiece. Oliverre had seven rebounds as well to lead the team. Sophia Bradbury was the third Beacon in double figures scoring.
The Beacons built their first-quarter lead thanks to a 9-0 run that put them ahead 13-5. They maintained that seven-point gap through the end of the first quarter. The Spartans chipped away in the second, scoring four unanswered to open the frame and chop the lead to three. Trailing by five later in the frame, Bailey hit a jumper and then nailed a pair of free throws to pull the Spartans within one, 26-25. Adams then connected for two points and a Spartan lead. Two late free throws by Adams put the Spartans ahead 29-27 going into the locker room.
The Beacons hit back-to-back triples early in the third quarter to pull ahead 35-31 and never trailed again. Castleton threatened late, with Magro knocking down a huge three with a minute to play to pull the Spartans within a possession, but a late free throw by the Beacons made it a four-point game with only three seconds to play. Castleton drew up a quick strike to Bailey to make it 57-55, but that was the final possession as the horn sounded on the contest.
The Spartans conclude the 2023-24 season on Saturday at the University of Southern Maine. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
