PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Stasia Epler of Vermont State University Castleton women's basketball hit the game-winning three to defeat Plymouth State 63-61 Tuesday evening—this is Castleton's first LEC victory of the season. 

Epler finished with 19 points, going 5-9 from deep and 6-15 from the field. Arianna Coombs ended with an 18-11 double-double, while Emily Adams came up with three blocks in the Spartans' win.

Epler opened the contest with a layup on a fastbreak opportunity. The Panthers saw the next 10 points go their way with a couple of threes to bring the score to 10-2. Junior Maggie McKearin came off the bench and immediately hit a three to swing the momentum Castleton's way. Plymouth's Raegan Peck finished the quarter with a layup to end the first quarter 
21-14 in the Panthers' favor.

Plymouth went on a 7-0 run in the first 2:30 of the second quarter to take the largest lead of the game at 28-14. Coombs responded to the Panthers' lead, scoring 12 of Castleton's 18 points in the second quarter and cutting Plymouth's lead 32-30 entering halftime. 

Emily Dingmon hit Castleton's first four points to begin the second half. The LEC Rookie of the Week was a force up and down the court, finishing with 11 points, six assists, six rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. 

Epler hit back-to-back threes to put Castleton ahead again for the first time since the first points of the game. The Panthers kept Castleton's lead within one as the two sides headed to the final quarter at 45-44.

Adams drove to the paint for a successful layup and the foul for a three-point play to start the fourth quarter. Dingmon followed up with a jumper to give Castleton their largest lead of the game at 50-44.

Plymouth saw a quick six-point turn in their favor, tying the game at 50 with seven minutes left to play. The two teams battled it out up and down the court, each looking for their first conference win of the season.

With a minute remaining, Plymouth's Hailey Malozzi made her layup to put Plymouth up 59-58. A missed shot by each side's next possession saw the time dwindle but Coombs would go on to hit a jumper with 21 seconds left to take a 60-59 lead. 

Coming out of Plymouth's timeout, Malozzi hit another layup to take back the lead 61-60 with three seconds remaining. With one play remaining, Schuylar Nolan found Epler at the top of the key who was able to create enough space to take the Spartans' final shot and saw it go through to give Castleton the hard-fought win and their first LEC win 63-61. 

VTSU Castleton returns home to take on LEC opponent Eastern Connecticut on Thursday, January 16 at 3 p.m.