![Spartans Sprint Past Badgers 75-37](/sports/wbkb/2012-13/32.jpg?max_width=450)
JOHNSON, Vt. – The visiting Spartans earned a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) women's basketball victory over host Johnson State College on Tuesday night by the score of 75-37. Johnson dips to 5-18 overall and 2-14 NAC while Castleton improves to 22-1, 15-1 NAC and remains at number two league standings.
Johnson was led by sophomore forward Ashley Jones (Jeffersonville, Vt./Lamoille) who came off the bench to score 14 points. The Spartans placed four players in double-figures led Liz Douglass (Rutland,Vt. / Rutland) and her 14-point effort. Freshman Stephanie Linder (Morrisonville, N.Y. / Saranac) and senior Tarryn Bolognani (St. Albans, Vt. / BFA - St. Albans) each contributed 12 points towards the win while Spartan guard Alyssa Leonard (Amherst, Mass./Amherst) tallied 11 points.
Castleton jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead within the first four minutes of play. The Spartans went 20-0 until the 8:44 mark whenNicole LaFreniere (Jeffersonville, Vt./Lamoille) sank a free-throw and then a 3-point jumper just seconds later bringing the tally to 25-6, Spartan advantage. The hosts chipped away at the Spartans' lead but would head to the locker room 26 points behind with a score of 38-12.
The Badgers opened up the second half but would face more of the same from the first half. The Spartans were able to hold their hosts off to as much as 46 at one point. The Badgers fought to stay in the game, but ultimately ended with a 38 point deficit ending the game at 75-37. The Badgers shot 37.8% from the field making 14-37 field goals while the Spartans were able to sink 53% of their attempts.
Johnson will move on to host a pair of games this weekend to complete their season schedule with Husson University on Friday at 7:30 pm and Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday at 3:00 pm. Castleton will wrap up its regular-season next week with a game at New England College on Thursday at 7:30 pm and a home contest against Colby-Sawyer College on Saturday at 3:00 pm.