MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The Spartans couldn't overcome a cold-shooting first half and dropped from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 48-35 loss to Middlebury on Tuesday evening in Pepin Gym.

Castleton shot 18.2 percent from the field and was outscored 29-12 in the first 20 minutes of action. However, the Spartans responded in the second half with 23 points while holding the Panthers to just 19 points and 33.3 percent shooting.

Freshman Meghan O'Sullivan (Merrick, N.Y.) was Castleton's top point-getter on the evening, going 5-for-8 from the field for 11 points. She also added four rebounds and didn't turn the ball over in 24 minutes of action. Sophomore Alyssa Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) finished with seven points and four rebounds.

Middlebury held the Spartans to just 1 of 17 shooting through the first 13:57 of play. The Panthers held a 19-4 lead at the 7:18 mark when Maddie Moreau scored two of her seven points during the opening run. The Spartans cut the lead to 11 on a hoop from O'Sullivan before the Panthers extended their lead to 29-12 at the half.

The lead remained in double-digits throughout the second half, with Middlebury holding a game-high 22-point lead (44-22) on back-to-back buckets from Tracy Borsinger with 7:41 left to play. The Spartans finished the game on a 13-4 run, making it a 48-35 game on a late three from Jade Desroches (Enosburg, Vt.).

Moreau led the Panthers with a game-high 13 points to go along with six rebounds, while Brittany Perfetti scored a dozen. Borsinger added eight points in the win, while Katie Pett grabbed six boards.

Middlebury improves to 2-1 with the victory and returns to action on Friday and Saturday at the Williams Tournament. Castleton, meanwhile, drops to 3-1 on the year and visits UMaine-Farmington and Thomas on Friday and Saturday.