February 29, 2008

Top-seed Castleton Falls 54-42 in NAC Semifinal

Castleton VT-Becker College junior Beth Pion poured in 16 of her game-high 17 points as #4 Becker College downed top-seed Castleton 54-42 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) semifinal action.

The Hawks improved to 17-10 on the season and will take on the winner of #2 Maine Maritime and #3 Husson Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm in the NAC Championship.

Castleton held a slim 21-20 edge at halftime, and scored the first three points of the second half to lead 24-20. The Hawks answered with 19-2 run to take a 39-26 lead with 12 minutes remaining. Pion keyed the run, scoring 10 points and dishing out a pair of assists over the seven-minute span.

The Spartans cut the lead to 8 at 41-33 on a LeeAnne Ketchen jumper in the lane with 6:23 remaining, but Pion answered once again with her lone three-pointer of the game.

Castleton once again cut into the lead with 1:20 left, trailing 47-40 after a Mary Nienow three-pointer, but the Hawks made their free-throws down the stretch and punched their ticket to the conference finals.

Castleton loses at home for the first time all season, and falls to 19-8 overall. Mary Nienow was the lone Spartan in double-figures with 12. Ketchen added 8 points and 7 rebounds, as Castleton was held to just 30% (17-56) shooting from the field and a dismal 3 for 20 (15%) from beyond the three-point stripe.

Kristin Karat joined Pion in double-figures with 13 points and 4 rebounds. Rachel Pinak added 9 points and 6 rebounds, while Brittany Evans chipped in 7 points and 8 rebounds for the Hawks. [Box Score]

###Spartans###