DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's basketball team fell to nationally-ranked UMass Dartmouth 82-60 on Saturday afternoon at the Tripp Athletic Center. The Spartans put together a strong second half but were unable to overcome the Corsairs' dominant first-half performance. 

Emily Adams led Castleton with 16 points and six rebounds, while Stasia Epler added 14 points and six boards. Maggie McKearin had a well-rounded performance, finishing with 13 points, a team-high nine rebounds, and three steals. 

Castleton struck first as Schuylar Nolan sank two free throws to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead with 9:28 left in the first quarter. However, UMass Dartmouth quickly took control with a 12-2 run and never looked back. By the end of the first quarter, Castleton trailed 26-14. 

The Corsairs extended their lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Spartans 25-8 to take a commanding 51-22 advantage into halftime. Despite the deficit, Castleton responded after the break, putting together a strong third quarter behind McKearin's seven points and a 7-for-8 team effort from the free-throw line. 

The fourth quarter saw Castleton outscore UMass Dartmouth 18-17, with Epler leading the effort with six points. Though the Spartans battled until the final buzzer, the Corsairs secured an 82-60 victory. 

The Spartans return home for their next matchup, hosting Plymouth State on Wednesday, February 12, at 5:30 p.m.