FINAL SCORE: Albany 95, Vermont 43
VESTAL, N.Y. – The Vermont women's basketball team fell in the quarterfinal round of the America East Tournament to the 1-seeded Albany Great Danes at the Binghamton Events Center on Saturday evening. UVM finishes the season 9-21 (4-12), while Albany improves to 25-4 (15-1).
 
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"It's always hard to end the season in such a disappointing manner," said head coach Lori Gear McBride. "It was less than a week ago that this group beat the conference's third-place team so I don't think tonight's result was indicative of the progress we have made. Albany is good and we weren't up for the challenge."
 
Eight Catamounts put points on the board for Vermont, as Kristina White posted a season-high six points on a pair of three-pointers and grabbed four rebounds. Hayley Robertson also pulled down four boards, adding three points and four assists. Kylie Butler went 6-for-6 from the foul line and chipped in a team-best nine points.
 
The reigning America East Player of the Year Shereesha Richards posted a game-high 32 points and pulled down six rebounds for Albany. Imani Tate tallied 21 points and dished out seven assists and Zakiya Saunders added 20 points.  
 
The Danes jumped out to an early 12-4 lead before Candice Wright drained a jumper to halt Albany's run midway through the first quarter. The Great Danes closed out the first period on a 12-0 run for a 24-6 cushion after 10 minutes.
 
Albany continued to set the pace through the second quarter, as the Danes held a 54-18 lead heading into the locker rooms at the half.
 
After a tough third period, White drilled her second triple of the evening at the end of the quarter as Vermont trailed Albany 78-29.
 
Vermont posted 14 points in comparison to Albany's 17 in the final quarter. Butler remained perfect from the foul line with her third trip to the charity stripe and closed out the Catamounts' final game of the season.
 
"I told the team before the game that I expected two things from them; to stick together and not quit on each other no matter the situation," McBride noted. "They did that and it is a silver lining and also a credit to Kylie and Gracia for their leadership of what is really a young group with a bright future."

Seniors Kylie Atwood and Gracia Hutson played their final game in their Catamount jerseys tonight. Atwood started 60 games for Vermont in her 110 appearances, while posting a career-high 20 points this season against New Hampshire. Hutson was a two-time America East Honor Roll member and finishes the season ranking top-15 in blocks in the league.