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FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Freshman
Sydney Smith set a new-career high for the third straight game, pouring in 20 points for the Vermont Catamounts, but Hannah Kimmel netted 29 points to lead Sacred Heart to a 76-66 win in non-conference women's basketball action on Wednesday night. Sacred Heart improved to 4-1, while the Catamounts dropped to 0-7.
"I thought we did a nice job to battle in the game, but we came out a little flat tonight. We've got to come out with more energy and not dig ourselves a hole. Our kids are playing with hard, but we've got to be able to convert that into results," said Vermont head coach
Lori Gear McBride.
Smith was 8-for-14 from the floor and added three 3-pointers.
Niki Taylor added 14 points and eight rebounds, while
Kylie Butler chipped in nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The Pioneers took a 13-3 lead in the first four minutes of the game, but Vermont climbed back within five on a 3-pointer from
Kayla Burchill at the 12:48 mark.
Sacred Heart pushed out to an 11 point lead twice over the final eight minutes of the half, but Vermont remained in striking distance, closing the margin to six as Smith drained a 3-pointer just before the break to make the score 39-33 as the teams headed to the locker room.
SHU opened the second half with a 7-2 spurt to push its advantage back to double-digits at the 17:38 mark. The Pioneers held off the Catamounts until the final two minutes of the game.
With UVM trailing 67-58, Vermont put together a 6-1 to close the lead to four, 68-64, but Sacred Heart went 6-for-10 from the foul line to close out the game and post the win.
Vermont returns to action on Sunday (Dec. 7) when it hosts Dartmouth at 2 p.m. at Patrick Gymnasium.
Tickets can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com, via the phone at 802-656-4410, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office (M-F: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and in person one hour before tipoff in the Patrick Gymnasium Lobby.
The game will be broadcast on WVMT-620 AM (online:
SportsJuice.com). It will also be streamed online for free in HD via
CatamounTV.com.