CASTLETON, Vt. – The Spartans used a tough defense to take an 18-point halftime and then cruised to a 68-40 victory over Maine Maritime on Friday evening in Glenbrook Gym. 

Castleton shot just 38.7 percent from the field but turned 26 turnovers into 36 points as the team improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0 within the North Atlantic Conference. The Mariners connected on 33.3 percent of their shots but didn't manage more than 22 points in either half as they fell to 3-4 on the year and 1-2 within the conference. 

Senior Stephanie Bull provided off a spark off the bench, scoring 14 of her game-high 18 points in the opening 20 minutes. She shot 8-for-9 from the field to go with three rebounds and two steals. Jades Desroches was in double figures with 11 points and five assists while Alyssa Leonard chipped in with ten points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Heather Murdough pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to go with nine points and one steal. 

Leah Jackson was Maritime's most efficient scorer; shooting 5-for-10 from the field and finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Rebekah Campbell and Kristi Wiley each added nine points off the bench while Campbell also added a game-high four blocks. 

Castleton scored the first five points of the game, before a Campbell layup at 13:45 made it 5-2. The Spartans countered with a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to push their advantage to 18-2 on a steal and breakaway layup by Bull with 10:30 left. 

The Mariners fought back and closed the score to 24-14 at 5:44 on a three from Mackenzie Vosburgh. However, Castleton came back with the next ten points to stretch its lead to 20 twice before finishing the half with a 36-18 advantage. 

Castleton didn't led the lead fall below 17 in the second half and back-to-back layups by Meghan O'Sullivan and Bull made it 59-31 with 9:40 remaining. In the final nine minutes the Spartan lead climbed as high 30 in the final minute of action before a Jackson jumper with 11 seconds left provided the 68-40 final. 

Castleton outrebounded the Mariners 40-34 and record 17 assists on their 24 field goals while swiping nine steals. 

The Spartans return to action on Saturday 3 pm when they host Husson.