SAINT-LAMBERT, Quebec - The Vermont State University Castleton women's basketball dropped its opening game of the Montreal Shootout on Monday, falling to SUNY Oneonta, 56-42.
 
The Basics:

• Final Score: 56-42 SUNY Oneonta
• Location: Saint-Lambert, Quebec
• Records: 5-2 SUNY Oneonta | 3-6 Castleton

 
How it Happened:
The opening quarter featured a defensive battle, with the Red Dragons holding the lead until the final minute of the frame, as Stasia Epler drained a jump shot to knot the score at 9-9. Oneonta answered with a three-pointer, followed by a jump shot from Arianna Coombs, to finish the first quarter down one (11-12).
 
The Spartans found themselves down 16-30 with four minutes remaining in the first half. Isabelle Cole scored a layup in an effort to spark a late quarter push, but the Red Dragons' defense limited Castleton, as the Spartans headed into halftime facing an 18-35 deficit.
 
Emily Adams drained the first bucket of the second half, as Castleton started to string points together. Coombs and Maggie McKearin put up a combined four points after, cutting the lead to 13 (24-37). As the third frame wound down, Schuylar Nolan knocked down a floating jumper, sending Castleton into the final quarter trailing 31-44.
 
The Spartans turned up the defensive pressure over the final 10 minutes, continuing to chop away offensively, even though they were outscored 12-11. Nolan cut the lead to eight (42-50) with just under four minutes left to go, after Coombs and Cole combined for seven points in four minutes. The Red Dragons never let up the offensive pressure through the final three minutes of play, taking the 56-42 win.
 
By the Numbers:

• Nolan led the team with 11 points, grabbing four rebounds, with three assists and one steal.
• Coombs had 10 points, with six rebounds and three assists.
• McKearin led Castleton with nine rebounds, contributing two points.

 
What's Next
The team will appear in its second and final game of the Montreal Shootout tomorrow (December 30) against Hamilton College at 4 p.m.