BANGOR, Maine. – Senior forward Vanessa Powers (Marshfield, Vt.) posted a double-double 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead four Spartans in double figures as Castleton State College downed Husson University 73-50 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Newman Gymnasium.
Castleton has now won ten straight games and improves to 16-4 overall, 13-1 in conference play. Husson falls to 10-9, 10-3.
Alyssa Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) followed Powers in the scoring column with 16 points, and Christine Jaques (Burlington, Vt.) added 12. Stephanie Bull (Milton, Vt.) added 10, while Meghan O'Sullivan (Merrick, N.Y.) chipped in nine off the bench.
Stephanie Comstock (Bangor, Maine) led the Eagles with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Brianna Hanscom (Mattawamkeag, Maine) and Kelli Murray (Shawmut, Maine) chipped in 12 and 11 respectively.
Castleton never trailed in the contest, racing out to an 8-0 lead on four points apiece for Leonard and Powers over the opening two minutes. An Eagle timeout, followed by five-straight points on a Comstock lay-up and Marissa Albert (Fort Kent, Maine) three-pointer quickly brought Husson back into the fray.
Husson remained within striking distance for much of the first half, coming as close as four and never trailing by more than 10 until Castleton ended the half on an 8-0 run to take a 33-18 lead into intermission.
The Spartans maintained a double-digit cushion for the remainder of the contest, consistently answering a Husson rally by going inside to Powers and O'Sullivan.
Castleton shot 52.5% (31-59) from the field and turned 20 Eagle turnovers into 29 points while limiting Husson to just 34.5% (20-58) and just nine points off Spartan miscues. The Spartans also held a distinct 21-4 advantage off the bench, thanks in large part to the contributions of Bull and O'Sullivan.
The Spartans are off until a Saturday match-up with Green Mountain College at 1 p.m. in Castleton.
Husson is back at it on Tuesday when the Eagles travel to Colby for a 5:30 pm non-conference affair.