CASTLETON, Vt. - The Norwich University women's basketball team suffered a 63-55 misstep to Vermont State University Castleton in the Cadets' season-opening rivalry game at Glenbrook Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.

Haley Brewster (Virginia Beach, Va.) led all scorers in the contest, knocking down six treys to finish with 23 points.  Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) was Norwich's other double-digit scorer, tallying 10 points to go with six caroms.

The Cadets rolled early, with Brewster drilling a pair of bombs to hand Norwich a quick 6-2 lead.  Norwich's offense ignited, with Brewster and McGinn combining for 13 points en route to the visitors claiming a dominant 18-6 advantage after the opening 10 minutes.

Tides began to turn in the second quarter, as the Spartans rallied to trim the lead down to four before the Cadets surged back ahead by double-digits, courtesy of a pair of Lily Briggs (Fair Haven, Vt.) freebies and a lay-in from Paige Dwinell (Graniteville, Vt.).  VTSU Castleton again responded, this time scoring 10 unanswered to close the frame, sending the game into halftime at 25-all.

The Spartans pushed themselves ahead out of the gates, but the Cadets held strong, eventually reclaiming the lead on another Brewster three-pointer at the 2:54 mark.  VTSU Castleton subsequently retook the lead until another two-for-two trip at the line for Briggs knotted the affair at 38-38 at the end of the third.

Both teams traded leads for the ensuing three minutes before Brewster, again, turned the tables in favor of the Cadets.  A clutch floater off the glass from Siobhan O'Donnell (Queens, N.Y.) gave Norwich a four-point lead before the Spartans surged ahead once more.  Brewster pushed the Cadets ahead for the final time with 2:40 remaining, as the the Spartans held the visitors scoreless en route to retaking the lead and securing victory.

The Cadets maintained edges in bench points (15-2) and points off turnovers (13-12) while holding the Spartans to a 29.6% mark from the floor.  Norwich finished a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe.

Norwich returns to action on Friday, Nov. 15, heading to the University of Maine-Farmington for the UMF Tournament.  The Cadets will battle the Beavers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, before taking on University of Maine Presque Isle on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1:00 p.m. in Farmington, Maine.