BOSTON, Mass. - UMass Boston Women's Basketball picked up their first win of 2024 in impressive fashion on Wednesday night, holding a high-powered Vermont State Castleton team to just 47 points in a 54-47 victory.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 54, Vermont State University Castleton 47

UMass Boston (4-11, 2-6 LEC)
Vermont State University Castleton (7-9, 1-6 LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
A fast start from both offenses saw Castleton build out multiple four-point leads within the opening minutes of the game. However, a quick five points from Beeban Jikiemi-Pearson in her first start of the season helped keep the Beacons within two halfway through the first quarter. An 8-2 Spartan run had the visitors up eight before a Keriann Farina layup cut it to six at the end of the period.

A pair of quick UMass Boston buckets cut their deficit down to two in the opening minute of the second quarter. In a stark contrast to the opening period, both offenses fell silent early in the second. Holding the Spartans to just seven points, the Beacons cut the gap down to four points, 24-20, at the halftime break. 

In the third quarter, the Spartans had a response for every UMass Boston score. Back-to-back layups by Paige Olliverre and Alexah Potter cut the lead to three, but three points from the Spartans pushed it back to six. Farina and Sophie Bradbury each knocked down jumpers, but Castleton took those points right back at the free throw line. Before the end of the third, the Spartans had stretched their lead to 40-33.

Thirty minutes of play finally began to take its toll on Castleton's seven-person active roster in the fourth quarter. Four straight made free throws by Potter and Farina cut the UMass Boston deficit down to three. At the six minute mark, Sibayla Jensen knocked down her first three-point attempt of the afternoon to tie the game.

Trading free throws late, the teams took turns swapping possession of a one-point lead. With just under three minutes to play, Farina knocked down a jumper to put the Beacons ahead by three. The hosts went 5-8 from the free throw line in the final minute of the contest, and the Spartans were without an answer. 

Winning the fourth quarter 21-7 gave the Beacons their first victory since December 2.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Beacons took advantage of 22 Castleton turnovers, turning them into 18 points
• Sunny Green put on a defensive clinic for the home team, racking up nine rebounds, three steals, and a blocked shot
• Nine of Farina's team-high 15 points came from the free throw line, where she went 9-10
• All four of the Beacons wins this season have come at home
• The UMass Boston win puts an end to a three-game losing streak in the all-time series against Castleton

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will stay put when they return to their home court to host Eastern Connecticut State University for a 1 PM tipoff on Saturday, January 20.