CASTLETON, Vt. – Castleton's defense propelled the Spartans to a 68-40 win over Maine Maritime in a North Atlantic Conference women's basketball game Friday. Castleton improved to 6-1 overall, 2-0 NAC, while the Mariners dropped to 3-4, 1-2.

Senior Stephanie Bull provided off a spark off the bench, scoring 14 of her game-high 18 points in the opening 20 minutes for the Spartans. 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. Bekah 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. 

The Mariners return to the court Saturday, 3 p.m., at Green Mountain.