NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Despite monumental performances from Haley Brewster (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.), the Norwich University women's basketball team endured a 66-61 setback to intrastate rival Vermont State University Castleton in the Cadets' home-opener on Tuesday evening in non-conference action.

The Spartans rushed out to a swift 5-0 lead, finding their offensive rhythm early on a trio of three-pointers, but the Cadets were unswayed, whittling Castleton's lead down and knotting things up at 11-all on an Erika Thomas (Burlington, N.C.) jumper.

The Cadets finally pulled ahead on a pair of freebies from Brewster, who scored 10 straight points between the end of the first stanza and the start of the second quarter.  Norwich built momentum through the second, as a Thomas trey gave the Cadets their largest lead of 10 late in the frame.

Castleton threatened the Cadets throughout the third, but Norwich would again keep the Spartans down, maintaining the lead through the full 10 minutes of play.  A trey from Siobhan O'Donnell (Glendale, N.Y.) and a lay-up from McGinn to open the fourth pushed Norwich ahead, 52-44, but Castleton promptly responded, pulling even at 59-all with 1:50 left.

An O'Donnell freebie put Norwich ahead, 61-59, but Elise Magro would give the Spartans the lead in the waning seconds on an and-one en route to securing victory over the Cadets.

Brewster finished the night with 25 points, while McGinn posted a monster 17-point, 19-rebound double-double to dominate inside.

Norwich will now look ahead to the weekend, playing back-to-back days to close out the pre-Thanksgiving break stretch.  The Cadets will first host Vermont State University Johnson on Friday, Nov. 17, at 6:00 p.m., before battling Vermont State University Lyndon on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1:00 p.m.