FINAL SCORE: Vermont 71, Bryant 66
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Junior guard Josie Larkins scored a career-high 29 points including 13 straight to start the fourth quarter as Vermont defeated Bryant 71-66 Sunday afternoon from Patrick Gym in the Catamounts home opener. Larkins also matched the program record for three-pointers in a single game with eight. With the win, the Catamounts improved to 1-3 this season while the Bulldogs fell to 1-2.
 
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Postgame – Coach Kresge
Postgame –  Larkins

COACH'S QUOTE
"It was great being home, playing in Patrick in front of our awesome fans and for this team to find a way to win," said head coach Alisa Kresge. "Today we had a balanced offensive attack with four players in double figures which was key to the victory."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The early going was back and forth between the Catamounts and Bulldogs with three ties. Josie Larkins had the first six points for Vermont on two made three-pointers.
• UVM closed the opening frame on a 13-0 run to take an 11-point edge into the second quarter. Rose Caverly had four points in the run and Larkins, Sarah Wells, and Emma Utterback added shots from downtown.
• The Bulldogs responded with an 11-2 run, making it 27-25 early in the second frame. Utterback immediately converted a three-point play and UVM went on an 8-0 run to build its lead back to 10. Bryant closed the half with eight straight points in the final 1:44 to make it a two-point edge for UVM.
• Bryant's Nicole Gallagher hit a three-pointer with 4:00 left in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the second half at 48-46. Bryant pushed its edge to four late in the frame but Caverly had four points late in the quarter for UVM. The Bulldogs took a one-point lead into the final quarter.
• Larkins took over for Vermont early in the fourth quarter, she hit back-to-back threes to give UVM an 57-52 lead and force a Bryant timeout with 8:48 remaining. Minutes later she hit back-to-back threes again pushing UVM's lead to 64-56 with 6:04 left. She scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter for the Catamounts.
• The Bulldogs were unable to cut the Vermont lead below four in the final minutes of the game and UVM held on for its first win of the season. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont scored 25 points in the first quarter, it was their second-highest total in a quarter this season. At Loyola Chicago on November 8 they scored 26 points in the first quarter.
• Larkins eight three-pointers matched the program record set by Christie Lauzon (at Hofstra, 1/4/99) and Ashleigh Cuncic (vs. UAlbany 2/16/05).
• Sunday was the second time this season Vermont has shot better than 50% from downtown. At Loyola Chicago the Catamounts shot 52.6% from behind the arc, this afternoon they shot 52.4%.
• Senior forward Hanna Crymble picked up her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. She also set a career-high with four blocked shots.
• With the victory, the Cats Win, Community Wins campaign and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Make-A-Wish Vermont, bringing this year's total to 98 wins and $9,800. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.

WHO'S NEXT
Vermont hosts Navy on Friday, November 22 at 7 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets to all Vermont women's basketball home games by visiting UVMathletics.com/Tickets, or by calling the UVM Athletic Ticket Office at (802) 656-4410. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to the contest on AM-620/96.3 FM WVMT with Maura Sheridan on the call.
 
Rise To The Top is the presenting sponsor of the 2019-20 women's basketball season.