FINAL SCORE: Vermont 79, Central Connecticut 63
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Head coach Lori Gear McBride earned her 100th win in Vermont's season opener and victory over Central Connecticut State on Friday afternoon as the Catamounts defeated the Blue Devils 79-63 at Patrick Gym. Sophomore Sydney Smith recorded her first career double-double as she collected 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead UVM.
 
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"The team brought the energy for 40 minutes and it was such a great team effort," said head coach McBride. "We have been working so hard this last month and a half and it showed today."
 
Senior Kylie Atwood tied her career-high of four 3-pointers as she finished with 12 points and collected five rebounds. Four Catamounts finished in double-figures as Candice Wright posted 15 points, going 6-for-7 from the foul line, and Courtney Wright registered 12 points shooting a perfect 6-for-6.
 
Central Connecticut's Kayla Miller posted a team-high 14 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes on the floor. Vermont held the Blue Devils to 28-percent from the field and 6-for-24 from 3-point range.
 
Central Connecticut went on a 9-2 run early, giving the Blue Devils a seven-point advantage. Candice and Andreana Thomas each drew a foul late in the period and were both connected a pair of free throws, cutting the CCSU lead to four with two minutes remaining in the quarter.
 
Chayla Lewis hit a 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining, but Hayley Robertson answered back with a jumper behind the arc. CCSU closed the first period leading 19-15.
 
UVM opened the second quarter with a dominant 22-0 run, fueled by Atwood draining two 3-point buckets and Smith adding nine points. Vermont shot 5-for-5 from 3-point range and went 8-for-9 from the field during the run to take a 37-19 lead with 3:19 remaining in the half.
 
Lewis and Musgrave added five points to cut into the Catamount lead but CCSU trailed UVM 39-29 at the half.
 
Vermont sustained a comfortable lead throughout the third quarter as the Catamounts went 8-for-10 from the foul line to pull ahead for an 18-point lead at the end of the third.
 
UVM made the final push in the fourth quarter with its lead growing as large as 27 in the second half. Robertson sealed Vermont's win on a layup with a minute remaining as it opened up the season with a convincing 16-point win over the Blue Devils.
 
Vermont heads on a three-game road trip that starts on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Columbia at 7 p.m. The Catamounts travel to Rhode Island for a pair of games on Saturday, Nov. 21 in Smithfield versus Bryant at 1 p.m. then head to Providence for a game on Monday, Nov. 23 against Brown at 7 p.m.
 
Radio coverage of all three games begins 20 minutes prior to tip-off on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com. Click here for live video links during the three-game road trip.