HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Castleton State College women's basketball fell to No. 15 Juniata College 84-57 in the opening round of the NCAA National Championship Friday evening at the Kennedy Sports & Recreation Center.

Castleton's season ends at 22-6, while Juniata dances on at 26-2.

The Eagles launched out to an early 14-2 lead in the first 3:45 of play thanks to a Natalie Glinsky (Indiana, Pa.) three-pointer, a foul shot and three Kate McDonald (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa.) layups, a senior Ashton Bankos (York, Pa.) jumper, and a Meagan Raville (McSherrystown, Pa.) trey.

Juniata maintained a double-digit lead throughout the opening half until the Spartans brought the lead back within single digits on the strength of back-to-back three-pointers from Tarryn Bolognani (Whitingham, Vt.) and Christine Jaques (Burlington, Vt.) at 33-24 with 5:50 remaining.

The momentum was short-lived, as the Eagles reeled off six quick points  of their own to push the lead back to 15 by the 4:22 mark.

McDonald notched 17 of her 21 points in the first half, including Juniata's six points in the remaining four minutes of the first stanza.

In the first five minutes of the second half, Juniata put up 15 points to Castleton's five. The Blue and Gold scoring spree featured a Glinsky three and layup, an Alyssia Gordon (Spring Grove, Pa.) layup, a Raville drive in the paint, followed by a McDonald layup and pair of foul shots.

Sophomore Alyssa Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) led the Spartans with 16 points, four rebounds and five assists, while classmate Stephanie Bull (Milton, Vt.) added 10 points and three steals off the bench. Bolognani finished with nine points.

McDonald posted 21 points, and Glinsky was next in line with 17 including a team high three buckets from 3-point land. Raville logged 12 points and junior Jordan Speck (Huntingdon, Pa./Southern Huntingdon) was the fourth and final player to reach double-digits with 10 points.