WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The Vermont women's basketball team returns to Burlington on Wednesday (Jan. 4) for its first home action of the 2017 calendar year, playing host to Maine in a 7 p.m. matchup at Patrick Gymnasium.
 
Wednesday's game will be streamed live and in high definition on AmericaEast.TV, with Tyler Terens on the call. Fans can also listen in on WVMT 620-AM as well as on Catamounts All-Access. Live stats will be available via SIDEARM Stats.
 
RELATED LINKS
Video | Audio | Live Stats | Tickets
Vermont Notes (.pdf) | Maine Notes (.pdf)
 
CATAMOUNTS RECAP
UVM closed out the holiday season on Dec. 30 with a trip to Howard in Washington, D.C. Hanna Crymble tied a career-high with 17 points but the Catamounts could not contain Howard's 16 offensive rebounds which were converted into 17 second chance points in a 64-57 setback.
 
The Bison began to pull away with the onset of the fourth quarter despite a valiant fight from UVM. Although Kristina White and Jessica Fuller contributed from beyond the arc, the Catamounts had a tough time on the glass as Howard came down with eight defensive rebounds. With just 2:52 remaining in regulation, Sydni Johnson put the game out of reach with a jumper for HU, which later stretched its advantage to as much as 10.
 
The game was closely-contested throughout the afternoon, particularly in the third quarter where five of the day's nine lead changes took place.
 
SCOUTING MAINE
Picked third in the America East Preseason Poll, Maine (7-8) closed out non-league play with a 64-53 setback at Boston College last Friday (Dec. 30). Four Black Bears amassed double-figure scoring but BC outscored Maine 46-22 in the second and third quarters and built a 38-24 margin in the paint to take the win.
 
As a team Maine averages 57.6 points per game while surrendering 60.8, the latter of which ranks third in America East. Senior Sigi Koizar chairs the offense with 14 points per game, followed up by freshman Laia Sole (8.4 ppg). Redshirt sophomore Tanesha Sutton highlights the boards with 5.1 rebounds per game. Nine players have roots outside the United States, including eight outside North America.
 
Head coach Richard Barron is in his sixth season at the helm in Orono and 17th campaign as a head coach. He is a graduate of Kenyon College and has made previous Division I stops as an assistant at NC State and Baylor as well as Princeton (head coach).
 
Maine qualified for the WNIT last season before being eliminated by Quinnipiac in the opening round.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Maine currently leads the all-time series with the Catamounts and has taken the last seven contests between the sides. However UVM boasts the longest winning streak in series history, rattling off 12 consecutive victories from 2006-11, including a 60-57 decision in the 2007 America East Quarterfinals. The Catamounts' last win over Maine came on Jan. 23, 2013 when Vermont grabbed a 61-53 result at Patrick Gymnasium.
 
CATS AMONG AMERICA EAST
Vermont heads into conference play sitting among the top in America East in multiple statistical categories. Catamount opponents are shooting just 36.2 percent from the field which ranks first in the league, while also posting a conference-best 26.9 defensive boards on a night-to-night basis.
 
DOUBLE THE FUN
UVM has had double-double performances turned in during each of its last two games at Patrick Gymnasium. Most recently, Hanna Crymble registered 11 points and 10 rebounds against Brown (Dec. 8), while Candice Wright chipped in 10 points and 11 boards in a win over Holy Cross (Nov. 30).
 
Four double-doubles were recorded last season, culminating with Hayley Robertson's 20 points and 10 rebounds against UMass Lowell on Feb. 8, 2016. Sydney Smith also accomplished the feat twice.
 
PAIR OF CATAMOUNTS EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT ACCOLADES
Following the Catamounts' runner-up performance at the TD Bank Classic (Nov. 25-26), both Smith and Crymble were named to the event's All-Tournament Team. Each logged 12 points in UVM's opening round win over NJIT (Nov. 25) and Crymble chipped in 11 points in the Championship Game against Milwaukee (Nov. 26).
 
HERE'S THE POINT
Crymble's weekend at the TD Bank Classic marked the rookie's third and fourth consecutive games reaching double figures in scoring and fifth in Vermont's first six matchups on the season. The four-game streak was the longest by a Catamount freshman since Smith reached double figures in seven straight games from Nov. 25-Dec. 14, 2014.
 
WELCOME TO VERMONT, COACH
A 1997 graduate of West Chester University in Pennsylvania, head coach Chris Day arrives in Vermont following a three-year stint as an assistant at the University of Pennsylvania. During his time at Penn, the Quakers punched two tickets to the NCAA Tournament and captured two Ivy League titles. The squad amassed 67 wins during his tenure, including a remarkable 36-6 mark in conference action.
 
The eighth head coach in UVM history, Day also spent time in coaching capacities at Indiana (2012-13), Saint Joseph's (2005-12) and La Salle (2004-05). He served a three-year stint (2000-03) as head coach at Division III Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, helping Widener make its first postseason appearance in 20 years.
 
NEXT UP
Vermont will head down Interstate 91 to the Nutmeg State for a Saturday afternoon (Jan. 7) matchup with Hartford. That game is slated for 2 p.m. at Chase Arena.
 
TRACK THE #VCATS
Fans can stay up to date on the latest news and notes around the Catamounts through a variety of platforms:
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