Castleton Coasts to 59-37 Win Over Salem State

SALEM, Mass. – Ashleay Wilcox (Windsor, Vt.) scored 14 points and added five assists to lead Castleton to a 59-37 win over Salem State on day two of the Salem State Holiday Classic. The Spartans improve to 9-3 on the season while the Vikings slip to 2-9.  

Castleton earned a 10-9 lead after one period of play.  Alexis Quenneville (Orwell, Vt.) opened the game with a three pointer and despite the Spartans managing just two field goals the rest of the quarter, Castleton exited the period with a one-point lead. Courtney Paschal (Waltham, Mass.), scored five points for Salem State in the opening quarter.

A 6-1 run by the Spartans opened up a seven-point advantage early in the second. However, back-to-back three pointers by Paschal and Katie Wallace (Peabody, Mass.) brought the Vikings to within three, 19-16 with 4:14 remaining, but Castleton behind six first half points from Brooke Raiche (Ira, Vt.) ended the quarter with a 23-19 lead. Both offenses struggles from the field with Castleton only connecting on 9-of-32 (28.1%) shots while Salem State went 6-for-30 (20%). Paschal led all scorers with eight points.

Quenneville and Tessa Davenport (Wallingford, Vt.) combined for seven points to open the third quarter as the Spartans raced out to a 30-20 lead. A Wilcox layup made the score 44-26 in favor of Castleton as the Spartans' defense held Salem State to just 3-16 (18.8%) shooting over the first eight minutes of the third.  

The Spartans increased their lead to as high as 28 in the fourth quarter following a trey by Ajla Medic (Burlington, Vt.). The Vikings produced just eight points in the final period allowing the Spartans to coast to a 59-37 victory.

Raiche and Paschal were named Team MVP's of the Salem State Holiday Classic.

Raiche and Quenneville finished with eight points apiece for Castleton, while Katlyn Toomey (North Adams, Mass.) had a game-high 11 rebounds.  

Paschal led the Vikings with 12 points. Natalie Mellinger (Beverly, Mass.) had seven points and Katie Wallace (Peabody, Mass.) eight rebounds.

Endicott defeated Eastern Connecticut 54-51 in the first game of the day.