WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts play their last game in 2019 Sunday as they face Merrimack for the first-time in program history in a non-conference matchup set for 3 p.m. at Hammel Court. The game will be broadcast live for free on NEC Front Row. The action can also be heard on WVMT AM 620/FM 96.3 with the voice of the Catamounts Maura Sheridan on the call.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Video | Live Stats | Listen Live | Game Notes (.pdf)
 
WINNING WAYS ROLLING IN DECEMBER
The Catamounts current four-game win streak is the longest under Head Coach Alisa Kresge. The last time the Catamounts won four straight games was the start of the 2011-12 campaign. UVM has also won six non-conference games for the first time since 2011-12.
 
UTTERBACK NAMED AE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK AGAIN
After registering a new career-high with 21 points Emma Utterback was named America East Rooke of the Week for the third this season on Monday. Utterback is the first America East student-athlete to receive three Rookie of the Week honors before the end of December since Maine's Laia Sole in 2016.
 
She is the eighth Catamount to earn three or more Rookie of the Week honors in a season – Joanne McKay (3x, 1984-85), Libby Smith (3x, 1998-99), Niki Taylor (3x, 2011-12), Dawn Cressman (4x, 1999-00), Hanna Crymble (4x, 2016-17), Morgan Hall (5x, 1999-00) and Courtnay Pilypaitis (7x, 2006-07).
 
QUICK STARTS LEAD TO WIN STREAK
The Catamounts have been starting fast in their current four-game winning streak. UVM has outscored its opponents 83-42 in the first quarter over its last three contests. In Vermont's six wins this season they have averaged 20.3 points in the first frame.
 
THREAT FROM DOWNTOWN
UVM is 29th in the NCAA with 96 made three-pointers. The Catamounts lead the conference with 8.0 three-pointers made per game. Six Catamounts have made eight or more triples this season and six Catamounts are shooting better than 34% from beyond the arc.
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
The Warriors enter Sunday's matchup with a 6-4 overall record, including a 4-1 record on their home court. In their last contest Merrimack defeated UMass Lowell 73-50 after a 25-point first quarter. At this point UVM and Merrimack have two common opponents – Dartmouth and UMass. UVM lost to both while Merrimack defeated UMass 79-64 and fell 57-52 at the Big Green in road contests.
 
Senior forward Denia Davis-Stewart leads the squad in three different stat categories with 18.0 points per game, 5.0 blocks per game, and 12.4 rebounds per game. Freshman point guard Jayme DeCesare leads the NEC conference with 4.1 assists on the season.
 
SERIES HISTORY WITH MERRIMACK
Saturday will mark Vermont's first-ever meeting with the Merrimack Warriors. It is Merrimack's first-season transitioning to be a full-time Division I program in the NEC. Vermont has competed annually with the Warriors in men's and women's hockey as Merrimack is a Hockey East team.

CATHY INGLESE PATCHES
This season the Catamounts are wearing jersey patches to honor our former Head Coach Cathy Inglese. Inglese was the head coach at Vermont for seven seasons, from 1986 to 1993. She led UVM to unprecedented success with its first two conference titles, in 1992 and 1993, and its first two trips to the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.
These patches will be worn at home and on the road this season to honor the memory of Coach Inglese who tragically passed away this summer.
 
Rise To The Top is the presenting sponsor of the 2019-20 women's basketball season.