CASTLETON, Vt – The Vermont State University Castleton women's basketball team showed out in front of a packed home crowd in Glenbrook Gym, taking down Hartwick College 76-56 for its home opener and the Spartan Classic opener.
The Basics:
- Final Score: 76-56 Castleton
- Location: Castleton, Vt. – Glenbrook Gym
- Records: 1-1 Castleton | 1-1 Hartwick
How it Happened:
The first half was tight as the
Kyrielle Deuso scored the first bucket for the Spartans just 40 seconds in, before Hartwick answered in the paint on the other end of the court. With two minutes left in the first quarter,
Maggie McKearin scored a layup to tie the game at 16, following two made free throws from the Hawks. McKearin then gave Casteton a two-point lead at the end of the first with another good layup.
The Spartans pushed their lead to four as the second quarter opened, with a good shot by
Nevaeh Camp for her first points as a Spartan. The Hawks tied the game once again with six and a half minutes to go off a good layup (22-22). With four minutes to go in the half,
Emily Adams gave the Spartans a six-point lead (28-22). As the second quarter came to a close, the Hawks got themselves back within two, but
Arianna Coombs notched a jumper to put Castleton up four going into halftime (34-30).
Arianna Coombs notched a good layup with four minutes to go in the third to put Castleton up by 13, before the Hawks clawed back within six (49-43) with less than three minutes to go in the quarter.
Schuylar Nolan drained a jumper, and McKearin notched a free throw to extend the lead back to nine. Hartwick shot back with a good three-pointer and layup (54-48), before Nolan scored with 30 seconds left in the third to put Castleton up 56-48 with 10 minutes left of play.
The Spartans outscored the Hawks 20-8 in an explosive fourth quarter. Deuso took the ball down the court for a layup, putting Castleton up by 11, as Hartwick answered less than a minute later with a layup on the other end.
Stasia Epler drained a three with three minutes left as the crowd erupted, and the Spartans got fired up.
Tiana Gallipo-Viernes drained the final points for Castleton in free throws, as she made her first points as a Spartan, and the team took the 76-56 win.
By the Numbers:
- Epler led the team with 16 points, dishing out four assists and grabbing two steals.
- Arianna Coombs led with seven rebounds, contributing 14 points, going 7-8 on field goals.
- Adams had a team-high three steals, with 12 points and five rebounds.
What's Next
Castleton continues to host the Spartan Classic tomorrow (November 16) as they take on Fisher College, set to start at 2 p.m.
