CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton women's basketball team fell in a tightly contested contest with the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill, 60-57, on Tuesday night. Emily Adams recorded her fourth double-double of the season in the team's loss.

The Basics:

• Final Score: 60-57 SUNY Cobleskill
• Location: Castleton, Vt. – Glenbrook Gym
• Records: 11-9 SUNY Cobleskill | 5-15 Castleton

How it Happened:
The Fighting Tigers scored the first basket of the game, but Schuylar Nolan countered with a driving layup, followed by two free throws to put Castleton up 4-2. The Spartans scored six unanswered points in two minutes to tie the game at 10, with less than two minutes to go in the quarter. Cobleskill scored the final basket of the frame to take a 16-10 lead.

Castleton found themselves down 24-12 with seven minutes to go in the first half. The Fighting Tigers' final basket of the half came with 53 seconds left, as the Spartans began a five-point run to end the half. Stasia Epler ended the half with a last-second three-pointer from Isabella Cole as Castleton cut the lead to seven heading into halftime (30-23).

Three minutes into the second half, Epler made her presence known yet again with a jumper and a free throw, followed by a three-pointer 30 seconds later, cutting the lead to 35-31. A good jump shot by Adams on a dish out by Maggie McKearin brought Castleton within one, while she nailed the free throw attached to tie the game at 35 with five minutes to go in the third quarter. Epler knocked down two free throws with four and a half minutes to go, giving the Spartans their first lead since the first quarter (37-35). Cobleskill finished the frame with an 11-2 run as they led 46-39 heading into the final 10 minutes.

Castleton regained the lead with four minutes to go in the final frame following a 10-second back-court violation by the Fighting Tigers as the Spartans turned up the defensive pressure. Arianna Coombs and Nolan connected on a three-point play as Arianna Coombs lay in a layup, drawing a foul and draining the free throw (51-49). Cobleskill tied the game up at 51 and then jumped out to a five-point lead with four seconds left after three free throws. Nolan connected with Adams at the buzzer for a last-second shot, but it was not enough as the Spartans fell 60-57.

By the Number:

• Adams led the team across the boards with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals for another double-double.
• Nolan added 14 points, four rebounds, and a team-high four assists.

What's Next
The team hosts Western Connecticut in a rescheduled game on Monday, February 9, set to tip off at 5 p.m.