Box Score
CASTLETON, Vt. – Vanessa Powers (Marshfield, Vt.) scored a game-high 20 points to lead three Spartans in double figures as Castleton State College defeated Maine Maritime Academy 76-60 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) women's basketball action Friday evening at Glenbrook Gymnasium.
With the win Castleton (14-8, 8-3) takes over sole possession in the NAC standings, while Maine Maritime (13-9, 7-4) falls into third.
Samantha Goda (Eliot, Maine) was the lone Mariner in double figures with 17 and eight rebounds. Jess Stahl (Bowdoin, Maine) added nine points off the bench while Leah Jackson (Dedham, Maine) added eight points and seven boards.
The Spartans raced out to a 19-4 lead over the opening five minutes of action, keyed by six points from senior forward Megan Johnson (Rutland, Vt.) and four from Powers. Maine Maritime hung around, and a late 8-2 run sliced the halftime deficit to 34-30.
The Mariners pulled even at 41-41 five minutes into the second half, but Castleton reeling of a 25-7 run over the next 10 minutes of play to push the lead to 66-48 with five minutes remaining. Powers poured in 10 points during the stretch and Kelly Conway (Rutland, Vt.) tossed in a pair of three-pointers to help ice the contest.
Castleton shot 54.4 percent from the field, and controlled the inside outscoring the Mariners 34-18 in the paint. Maine Maritime struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 32.3 percent from the field and 3-for-21 (14.3%) from three point range. The Mariners made up for it with 19 offensive rebounds which led to 15 second chance points, and held a distinct advantage at the free throw line, going 17-for-28 while Castleton was 10-for-13.
