FINAL SCORE: Vermont 62, Albany 57
BURLINGTON, VT.– The Catamounts have won back-to-back games against teams that were predicted to finish first and second in the America East Conference. After winning in New Hampshire on Monday night, Vermont beat Albany 62-57 on Tom Brennan Court at Patrick Gymnasium on Thursday night. UVM snapped a 19-game losing streak against Albany, which dated back to 2011.
 
With the victory (and the men's basketball victory over Albany), the Cats Win, Community Wins campaign and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate another $100 to the Boys and Girls Club of Burlington, bringing this year's total to 93 wins and $9,300.
 
"This is one of the best wins I have ever been a part of," said UVM head coach Chris Day. "The way our kids battled was a joy to watch. To beat this team three days after we defeated New Hampshire is unbelievable. I am so proud of our coaches and players. What a win for our program."
 
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After Albany's Mackenzie Trpcic hit a three-pointer to open the scoring, Vermont went on a 12-0 run early in the first quarter. That rally set the tone for the rest of the evening.
 
The Catamounts entered halftime with a 33-17 lead over the Great Danes (the top scoring offense in the America East). As a team, UVM went 6-14 from the field in the first quarter and 6-12 from the floor in the second quarter.
 
Albany started to apply pressure in the third, but with 1:59 to go in the quarter, Vermont held its largest lead of the game at 19.
 
The Great Danes fought to make it a two-point game with 1:47 left. However, once Vermont took a 5-3 lead in the first quarter, they would never let it go.
 
Hanna Crymble led the Catamounts with 18 points (6-6 FT) and seven rebounds. She has now registered double-figures in the scoring column in 21 out of 24 games this season. Crymble also ranks eighth in the nation in free throw percentage (90.7%).
  
Sydney Smith added 11 points and seven rebounds. The senior co-captain ranks 4th all-time in three-pointers made in program history and converted a triple to bring her career total to 177.
 
Kristina White and Cassidy Derda each added eight key points for the Catamounts. Katie Lavelle racked up six points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals before fouling out in the fourth quarter. 
 
Albany was led by two players in double-figures: Jessica Fequiere (18) and CeCe Mayo (14).
 
Both teams struggled with playing keep-away. Albany committed 21 turnovers while UVM committed 30. The Catamounts out-rebounded the Great Danes 36-38.
  
With the win, Vermont is now 8-16 overall, 6-8 at home and 5-6 in America East play. Meanwhile, Albany falls to 20-5 overall, 8-4 on the road and 9-3 in conference play. UVM and Albany split the season series at 1-1.
     
As a team, Vermont shot 52% from the field, 39% from downtown (5-13) and 68% at the free throw line (13-19). Meanwhile, Albany went 40% from the floor, 24% from distance (4-17) and 35% at the foul line (7-20).
    
Next up, UVM starts at three-game road trip at UMass Lowell.  The River Hawks are the only team in the America East without a conference win (0-11). The Catamounts beat the River Hawks on Jan. 3 at home (conference opener). UMass Lowell hosts Vermont on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
 
The video broadcast for the UMass Lowell game can be found on ESPN3. Per a contract with ESPN, every America East basketball game airs online on ESPN3. 
 
As always, Logan Ratick has the play-by-play call for Sunday afternoon's America East showdown with UMass Lowell on CatamounTV.com, as well as the flagship station for UVM women's basketball, News/Talk 620 WVMT-AM. Pregame coverage begins at 1:40 p.m., with tip-off set for 2 p.m. from Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.