CASTLETON, V.T. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's basketball team resumed their season on the road at Vermont State Castleton on Saturday afternoon, as they fell to the Spartans by a final score of 76-59. With the loss, RPI falls to 4-6 overall while Castleton improves to 7-4.
 
The Spartans led nearly from start to finish, as they jumped out to an 18-11 lead after the first quarter.  A three-pointer from Danielle Strauf with 3:11 to play in the opening frame was the last bucket for the Engineers until the second quarter when Strauf collected a layup with 8:20 to play.
 
That allowed Castleton to go on a 10-0 run, opening up a 12-point lead. RPI then went on a run of their own, a 9-0 run that brought the Engineers back within three after a layup from Julia Rowe with 6:10 to play. Both sides battled the rest of the half as a jumper from Siena Smith capped the quarter as RPI trailed by just four points, 32-28, at the halfway point.
 
Castleton pulled away with the game in the third quarter, as the Engineers put up just eight points as the Spartans turned in a 55-36 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Spartans maintained the lead until the final horn, collecting the 76-59 win.
 
Smith topped all RPI scorers with 15 points and five rebounds while also leading the team with three assists. Strauf and Rowe each finished with 10 points, with Rowe grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Elise Magro and Liz Bailey each scored over 20 points for the Spartans, with Magro tossing in 26 to lead their offense. Bailey finished with a double-double, notching 21 points and 10 rebounds. Stasia Epler also added in 12 points as the third Spartan in double-digits.
 
RPI returns to action on Friday, Jan. 5 at 5:30 p.m. as they head to Saratoga Springs to take on Skidmore in Liberty League action.