Box Score 

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Erica Rate scored a team-high 12 points, and Christine Daniels posted 10 points and nine rebounds to lead the Norwich University women's basketball team to a hard-fought 54-50 victory over in-state rival Castleton State Thursday evening at Andrews Hall.

Rate scored all of her points on three-pointers, connecting on four shots from behind the arc. Ally Daniels chipped in nine points for the Cadets, who improve to 7-4 on the season. Jess Jaggars was strong on the boards, ripping down nine rebounds on the night.

The game was tightly-contested throughout, with nine ties and 16 lead changes. Norwich trailed 46-45 with 5:10 to play, but the Cadets outscored the Spartans 9-4 to end the game and escape with the four-point victory.

The first half featured six ties and 10 lead changes, as the teams went back and forth throughout the opening 20 minutes. Castleton State knocked down three three-pointers in the first seven minutes to take a 15-10 lead at the 12:58 mark. Seven straight points by Norwich gave the Cadets a 17-15 lead with 10:40 to play in the first half. The game stayed close over the remainder of the half, and NU took a 28-26 lead into the intermission.

The second stanza was just as close with three ties and six more lead changes. Castleton State took its first lead of the second half on a three-pointer by Jess Banks at the 10:06 mark, giving the Spartans a 38-35 edge. A 10-2 run by Norwich gave the Cadets a 45-40 lead at the 7:17 mark, but six straight points by CSC put the Spartans back in front, 46-45, at the 5:10 mark.

Castleton State (5-6) was led by Mary Nienow, who scored a game-high 14 points. Banks added 12 points and six rebounds for the Spartans.

Norwich outrebounded Castleton State, 43-35. The Cadets committed 20 turnovers, while the Spartans made 19 miscues. NU shot 33.3 percent from the field, while CSC knocked down just 33.9 percent of its shots.

The Cadets open their GNAC schedule on Saturday, Jan. 10, when the Cadets travel to Mount Ida for 1 p.m., contest.