PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's basketball team took down the Panthers of Plymouth State Wednesday night, 83-65. Stasia Epler scored a career-high 25 points, while the trio of Epler, Maggie McKearin, and Isabelle Cole shot 9-10 from the three-point line.

The Basics:

• Final Score: 83-65 Castleton
• Location: Plymouth, New Hampshire – Foley Gymnasium
• Records: 7-17 (3-12 LEC) Castleton | 10-14 (3-12 LEC) Plymouth

How it Happened:
The Spartans opened the first quarter with an 8-3 run with McKearin draining a three-pointer with six minutes to go, before the Panthers answered with a layup to cut the lead to three (8-5). Plymouth flipped the script through the final four minutes of the quarter, going on a 6-3 run as they took a 14-11 lead at the end of the first.

Epler knocked down a three-pointer from Cole to tie the game at 14, 15 seconds into the second quarter, which Cole followed up with a three of her own to put Castleton up 17-14. Epler hit her second three-pointer of the quarter with seven and a half minutes to go as Castleton climbed out to a six-point lead (22-16). Continuing her hot streak, Epler hit another three 30 seconds later as Castleton was now up 25-18, before the Panthers clawed back within three (30-27) with four minutes to play in the half. The Spartans went on a 13-6 run to close out the first half with a 43-33 lead. Epler and Cole combined for a perfect 6-6 from beyond the arc through the first 20 minutes.

Five minutes into the third frame, the Panthers pulled within three off a jump shot (48-45), which Epler answered with two free throws a minute later (50-45). McKearin finished the third quarter with a layup for her 12th point of the night as Castleton headed into the final 10 minutes of play with a 56-47 lead.

Cole and McKearin drained back-to-back three-pointers as the fourth frame opened, putting Castleton up 64-49 as they pulled away from the Panthers. With five minutes to play, Epler drained three free throws, giving the Spartans a 24-point lead (77-53). The Panthers had one final push in the last five minutes with a 12-6 run, but the Spartans prevailed behind a 9-12 performance from the three-point line.

By the Numbers:

• Epler recorded a career-high 25 points as she went 4-4 from the three-point line and 7-7 from the free throw line.
• McKearin recorded a season-high 19 points, along with six rebounds, and went 2-2 from beyond the arc.
• Emily Adams recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• Cole added 11 points, going a career-best 3-4 from the three-point line.

What's Next
The team heads to Southern Maine for another LEC contest on Saturday, February 21. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m.