WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts return to action this weekend with just one game on the docket. UVM is in Worcester, Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 9) for a 12:05 p.m. tip-off with Holy Cross. It is Vermont's lone game this week and its only tilt before returning to Burlington to host Northeastern on Sunday, Dec. 17.
  
Friday's game at the College of the Holy Cross will contain an audio broadcast on CatamounTV.com and News/Talk 620 WVMT-AM. Pregame coverage with Logan Ratick starts at 11:40 a.m., with tip-off set for 12:05 p.m.
 
RELATED LINKS
Video | Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
CATAMOUNTS RECAP
Vermont has dropped five consecutive games, including four at Patrick Gym. The most recent contest resulted in a 57-41 loss at home to Boston University on Sunday, Dec. 3. Hanna Crymble was the only player who scored in double-figures for the Catamounts in her third consecutive game with 20+ points. Crymble contributed 21 points to go along with six rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists.
 
Against BU, UVM shot 28% from the field, 18% from three-point range and 62% from the free throw line as a team. However, the Catamounts held the Terriers to a 17% clip from downtown.
 
Vermont has lost each of its last three games by double-digits. The Catamounts only wins this season have come against Norwich (Nov. 17) and Howard (Nov. 19). Freshman guard Josie Larkins has started three consecutive games for the Catamounts and is averaging just over six points per contest through her first nine games. 
 
SCOUTING HOLY CROSS
Head Coach Bill Gibbons is in his 33rd season at the helm of the program (36th season in the athletic department) and owns a record of 592-388 over that span. In his first 29 seasons as head coach, the Crusaders won 20+ games 17 times. In 1991, Gibbons' team became the first and only Patriot League women's basketball squad to win an NCAA Tournament game, when his team upset Maryland 81-74 in the first round.   
 
Last season the Crusaders went 8-22 overall and 6-12 in Patriot League play. Holy Cross is 3-5 to begin this season, including a 1-2 record at home.
 
Holy Cross has lost back-to-back games (both at home) to Albany (Dec. 3) and Boston College (Dec. 6). The Crusaders opened the season with an 84-56 victory on Nov. 12 at America East opponent, UMass Lowell. Unlike the Catamounts, the Crusaders won at Rider. They claimed an 83-56 victory on Nov. 18 while UVM lost to Rider 64-49 on Dec. 1.
 
Sophomore forward Lauren Manis leads the Crusaders in points per game (20.3), rebounds per game (9.3) and total steals (19). Her mother, Allison, played college basketball with the Catamounts and was team captain as a senior.
 
Senior guard Infiniti Thomas-Waheed is the second half of Holy Cross' two-headed monster on offense. Thomas-Waheed is averaging 17.9 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game this season. She has recorded a team-high of five blocks on the 2017-18 campaign.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont owns a 9-7 all-time advantage against Holy Cross. UVM lost the first ever meeting in Worcester, 91-76, on Nov. 30, 1982. The Catamounts are 3-6 all-time in Worcester.
 
UVM won the last meeting 63-52, which came at Patrick Gym on Nov. 30, 2016. In terms of returning Catamounts who contributed, Sydney Smith scored 15 points and secured eight rebounds, while Candice Wright recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
HISTORY BEFORE OUR EYES
Candice Wright's five blocked shots against Rider on Friday, Dec. 1 placed her in sole possession for first-all time in career blocks by a Catamount. The junior broke Katie McNamara's ('05) record of 102 blocked shots on her first rejection of the contest. Wright has the rest of this season and her entire senior campaign to add to her record total.
  
DIALING FROM LONG DISTANCE
As a team, Vermont is shooting 27% from downtown and averaging just over seven made three-pointers per game. Out of UVM's 514 field goal attempts through the first nine games of the regular season, just over 46% have come from behind the three-point line. Individually, the most proficient three-point shooting Catamounts have been Hanna Crymble (33%), Cassidy Derda (33%) and Josie Larkins (30%).
  
NEXT UP
Vermont has a little over a week between games before playing host to Northeastern at Patrick Gym on Sunday, Dec. 17. Logan Ratick handles the pregame coverage for the Catamounts battle with the Huskies starting at 1:40 p.m., followed by the game at 2 on CatamounTV.com and News/Talk 620 WVMT-AM. The game will also be broadcast with video on ESPN3, with Alastair Ingram and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. 

Fans can purchase tickets for next Sunday's (Dec. 17) home game against Northeastern by visiting UVMathletics.com/Tickets. Additionally, tickets can be acquired by calling the UVM Athletic Ticket Office at (802) 656-4410 or by visiting the office, located on the balcony of the Patrick Gymnasium Lobby. On game days, tickets can be purchased beginning one hour before tip-off in the Patrick Gymnasium Lobby.