DANBURY, Conn. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's basketball team battled in a close 59-51 loss to Western Connecticut Saturday afternoon in Little East Conference action.
The Basics:
- Final Score: 59-51 WestConn
- Location: Danbury, Conn. – Feldman Arena
- Records: 6-10 (2-6 LEC) WestConn | 5-10 (1-6 LEC) Castleton
How it Happened:
Maggie McKearin went off in the first quarter from beyond the arc, shooting a perfect 3-3 from the three-point line, leading the Spartans with nine points through the first 10 minutes of play. Behind McKearin's nine points and
Emily Adams' eight points, Castleton found itself with a 12-point lead at the end of the first frame (24-12).
The Wolves began to claw back in the second quarter, limiting Castleton to just five points after an explosive first frame. McKearin notched her fourth three-pointer of the day with six minutes to play in the half, before the Spartans were held scoreless through the remainder of the frame, while the Wolves went on an 8-0 run before halftime (29-25).
WestConn opened the second half with a layup, pulling within two, before
Stasia Epler answered with a layup to extend Castleton's lead to four (31-27). With five and a half minutes left in the third frame, the Wolves tied the game at 33, before trading made free throws back-and-forth with the Spartans, until they pulled ahead 37-35 with just under five minutes to play, finishing the quarter with a four-point lead (45-41).
After two knocked-down free throws by the Wolves to kick off the fourth quarter, Adams drained a layup to bring Castleton back within four (47-43) a minute and a half into the frame. Castleton faced a scoring drought after a 12-5 run by the Wolves with a minute and a half remaining in the game. Adams drained another free throw, and Epler knocked down a layup in less than a minute, but it was not enough as WestConn took the 59-51 win.
By the Numbers:
- McKearin led the team with 17 points, going 5-7 from the three-point line, and adding a team and career-high six steals.
- Adams posted 15 points, with a team-high eight rebounds, two steals, and two assists.
What's Next
The team heads to UMass Boston on Wednesday, January 21, for another Little East Conference matchup, set for 5 p.m.