CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's basketball team closed out its 2024-25 slate with a tough loss at the hands of the University of Southern Maine on Saturday, 78-55.

The contest started with a technical foul assessed to the home team due to issues with the shot clock equipment, which allowed USM to record its first point of the game as Francesca Ramsdell made her free throw. Fueled by a tough start to the contest, Castleton answered with four points on a layup by Arianna Coombs, assisted by Stasia Epler, and a pair of made free throws by Schuylar Nolan to lead 4-1 at 6:55. The teams would continue to trade blows, Castleton putting up twos while Southern Maine was sinking threes to take a four-point advantage at the end of one, 17-13.

USM was able to grow its advantage to as many as 11 points throughout the course of the second half, but Castleton stayed the course and battled back within one thanks to a 10-point run with points coming from Luna Perry-St. Peter (4), Epler (3), and Maggie McKearin (3). The Huskies put up a pair of baskets to close out the half with a 33-28 lead.

An 11-4 run saw the visitors ahead by 13 points midway through the third quarter, but it was slowed by an and-one by Emily Adams and a successful trip to the charity stripe by McKearin to make it 47-39 with just over two minutes remaining in the stanza. They were able to grow their advantage back to 12 points heading into the final period of play, 53-41.

USM was quick to build its advantage to 18 points before a pair of Coombs free throws slowed things down. Castleton worked to bring the game back to a manageable deficit but was unable to do so as they fell 78-55 at the final buzzer.

Adams led the team with a double-double composed of 19 points and 12 rebounds. The junior also contributed a block and a steal to the stat sheet. Coombs was second-best offensively with her 13 points. The trio of Coombs, Nolan, and Sadie Young each grabbed six rebounds.


As the 2024-25 season comes to a close, the Spartans look to return their entire roster for the next season, with Adams, McKearin, Perry-St. Peter, and Epler returning for their senior season.