CASTLETON, Vt. – Maine Maritime Academy women's basketball fell to Castleton University 67-55, on Friday evening in North Atlantic Conference action.

The Mariners jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes of play and Kristi Willey (Topsham, Maine) stretched the lead to 12-5 on a three, before Castleton's Bryanna duPont came back with a jumper and Jade Desroches connected on back-to-back triples to give the Spartans a 13-12 advantage with 4:39 left. The teams traded baskets over the final minutes of the quarter, including an offensive rebound and layup by Willey to cut Castleton's lead to just 23-22 after the first quarter.

Castleton scored the only two points in the opening four minutes of the second quarter, but four-consecutive free throws by the Mariners put them back in front 26-25. DuPont ended the run with a layup and Makayla Farrara followed with a three to take a 30-28 lead with 2:04 remaining. Alayne Felix (Mahopac, N.Y.) made a free throw 13 seconds later but the Spartans finished the quarter with the last four points, for a 34-29 advantage at the break.

DuPont made a jumper to start the third as Castleton opened on a 9-1 run to extend their lead to 43-30. The Spartans extended their advantage to 48-30 midway through the period, but a 6-0 run by the Mariners cut the deficit to 48-36 with 1:50 left, and Alex Winchester (Hampden, Maine) sank a three with just five seconds left to trail 51-41 entering the fourth.

The teams traded baskets over the first half of the fourth quarter, until Winchester made another three pointer and Megan McLean (Eliot, Maine) followed with two free throws to cut the deficit to 58-50 with 2:44 left. Maine Maritime used a 5-2 run to make it a seven-point game, but Desroches made five-consecutive free throws over the next minute to secure the victory of the Spartans.

Felix led the Mariners with 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks, for her fourth double-double of the season. McLean chipped in seven points and five rebounds while Willey had eight points and nine rebounds.

Desroches and duPont led Castleton's offense with 22 and 19 points respectively. Desroches also added four rebounds, four steals and three blocks. duPont recorded five rebounds and a pair of steals.

The Mariners fall to 14-8 on the season and 10-5 in NAC play, while the Spartans improve to 18-4 overall and 13-2 in the conference. Maine Maritime returns to action tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., against Green Mountain College.