JOHNSON, Vt. – The Spartans trailed 26-16 at the break, but came back with a vengeance in the second half to overtake Johnson State College in North Atlantic Conference action and earn a 62-47 victory on Thursday night in Carter Gymnasium.

Castleton was held to just 16 points in the first half, but came back to score 46 in the final 20 minutes on 17-for-37 shooting from the field while holding the Badgers to just six field goals on 27 attempts. The Spartans improve to 10-4 overall with the win and 7-1 in the NAC while Johnson falls to 3-12 and 1-8 in conference action.

Senior Christine Jaques (Burlington, Vt.) led five Spartans with an 16-point, 11-steal effort while junior Tarryn Bolognani (Whitingham, Vt.) recorded 11 points and six rebounds and Stephanie Bull (Milton, Vt.) chipped in 11 points. Vanessa Powers (Marshfield, Vt.) added 10 points and sophomore Heather Murdough (Hillsboro, N.H.) had a double-double 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, including six the offensive end.

The Badgers received 18 points from freshman Brittany Robertson (Burlington, Vt.) and sophomore Jenessa Swainbank (Enosburg Falls, Vt.) scored seven points and hauled down 10 rebounds. Freshman KC Cousineau (Bristol, Vt.) chipped in with six points and nine boards.

Johnson went 4-for-8 from downtown and held the Spartans to just 17-percent shooting in the first half to take a 26-16 after minutes of action. The second half was a different story, as Castleton forced 20 of its whopping 38 turnovers after the break and used its defense to get back into the game.

The Spartans took their first lead with 11:38 left to play, courtesy of a Vanessa Powers (Plainfield, Vt.) jumper. That jumpstarted a 9-0 run that took less than a minute, capped by a Jaques 3-pointer to make it 45-37. Castleton maintained its advantage through the game's final ten minutes and held on for the victory.

The Spartans return to action on Saturday, when they host Lyndon at 1 p.m.