The last home game of the season for the women’s basketball team happened on Saturday Feb. 13 at Castleton State College. The team is graduating two seniors this year. Senior guard Katie Hoxie and Forward Laura Cary were congratulated at center court by the head Coach Tim Barrett and their parents. It was an emotional moment for both seniors and their families. After the ceremony the Spartans prepared for the one of their toughest games of the season. The Spartans faltered in the beginning of the game, quickly finding themselves in a deep hole. Luckily, though, sophomore guard Christine Jaques and Forward Vanessa Powers started to rain threes. The Spartans took the lead with 12:36 left in the first half.

UMaine-Farmington went on a run of its own, though, dropping in seven unanswered points to cut the Spartans lead. The Spartans answered back by going on a 14-3 run. Castleton was able to maintain the lead in the second half, securing the victory with the score of 71-58 over the Beavers.

Jaques was the high scorer for the Spartans with 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists. She was 5-for-7 beyond the arch in Saturday’s game.

The Beavers high scorer was Caitlyn Laflin. She scored 21 points, and had six rebounds, two assists and one block. Ten of Laflin’s points came from the charity stripe, shooting 10-for-12 in free throws.

The Spartans have been on a five-game winning streak since Feb. 2, winning each of those games by double digits.

Castleton has also won nine-of twelve games in conference play, propelling the team to be in second place overall in the North Atlantic Conference.

Cary said she is pleased with the way the season has gone so far.

“I feel that everyone has stepped it up this year’. We did have our ups and our downs but overall we are doing great as a team,'” Cary said.

Earlier this week, Barrett discussed how the team pans out with the rest of the conference.

“We control our destiny. We have been playing consistent both inside and outside of the paint,” he said.

Barrett also mentioned how important it was that everyone on the team was putting great effort into the games they prepare for every week.

The Spartans will travel to Maine to play their final two games of the season. They play Maine Maritime at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb 19. Then the Spartans will play the number one team in the league, Husson University, on Saturday, Feb. 20.