FINAL SCORE: Hartford 52, Vermont 50 (OT)
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Darby Lee's turnaround jump shot from the baseline with 1.8 seconds left in overtime led Hartford past visiting UVM on Sunday afternoon at the Chase Family Arena. Vermont drops to 7-18 (2-10) on the season, while Hartford improves to 11-14 (7-5).
 
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Kylie Atwood posted a game-best 17 points and dished out two helpers for the Catamounts. Sydney Smith chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds, while Candice Wright and Katie Lavelle also recorded seven boards each.
 
Lee recorded 15 points and went 7-for-8 from the foul line in her game-winning effort for Hartford. Janelle Harrison registered a double-double with 14 points and a game-best 16 rebounds.

Lee connected on a pair from the charity stripe for Hartford with a minute left in overtime to tie the score at 50. Hartford grabbed a key rebound and called timeout with 10 seconds on the clock to set up its final possession. Lee took an entry pass near the left block, faked inside to the paint, and sunk a turnaround 10-footer from the baseline with two seconds remaining.

"We've had back-to-back games where the result has been difficult to accept," said head coach Lori Gear McBride. "I'm most impressed by the players' resolve and mental tenacity. As long as we keep our fight, the rest will fall into place."

Vermont remained on the heels of the Hawks in the opening half, as Hartford never took more than a two-possession lead. Atwood reached double-figure scoring as she canned a long 3-pointer, giving the Catamounts their first advantage of the game with a minute to play in the half.
 
After a left-handed layup by Katelyn Skinner in the closing seconds, UVM trailed 27-25 after two quarters. While the Hawks limited the Catamounts to just 26.7-percent from the field in the first half, Vermont held a 21-20 edge on the boards.
 
Candice Wright drove down the right end past two Hartford defenders to make it a single-possession game with just under three minutes left in the third, and tied it up again with another coast-to-coast layup. The teams were knotted at 38 apiece with 10 minutes left to play.
 
After an 8-3 run by Hartford, Vermont trailed the Hawks 46-41 with 2:33 remaining in the game. Smith drained a huge triple with just over a minute to play to cut the lead to two, followed by a swat on the opposite end by Wright.

A runner from left of the lane by Atwood tied the game at 46 apiece with 5.7 seconds to play and action was halted by a Hartford timeout. Another crucial block by Wright stopped Hartford's final attempt and sent the game into overtime before Lee's game-winning bucket.

Vermont finished the afternoon with a 48-36 advantage on the boards and held the Hawks under 32-percent from the floor.

The Catamounts have a quick turnaround and make their way to Vestal, New York for a league matchup with Binghamton on Tuesday (Feb. 16). Tip-off against the Bearcats at the Event's Center is set for 7 p.m.
 
Radio coverage begins 20 minutes prior to tip-off on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com with Kevin Fitzgerald calling the action. All conference games can also be viewed for free via AmericaEast.tv.
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALUMNAE DAY
Women's Basketball Alumnae are invited to join the current team and coaches as they take on UMBC at Patrick Gym on Saturday, February 20.

8-9am - Team Shootaround
9-10am - Team/Alumnae Meal
10-11am - Alumnae Game (dependent on pre-registered participant numbers)
1pm – Vermont vs. UMBC – Alumnae will be recognized at halftime
 
For more information or to register, please contact our Victory Club Office at 802-656-0956 or Victory.Club@uvm.edu.  Online registration is also by clicking here.