BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont had five players score in double figures and held Brown to 30 percent shooting as they blew out the Bears on the opening day of the TD Bank Classic from Patrick Gym Saturday 79-46. With the win Vermont improved to 2-3 on the campaign while the Bears fell to 2-5. The Catamounts will face Bucknell, who defeated North Dakota 64-59, in the TD Bank Classic Championship game Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score (.pdf)
CatamounTV Highlights
Postgame Video: Larkins
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Proud of how we competed for 40 minutes and our team effort on both sides of the basketball," Mayer Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge said. "I thought a big key was sharing the basketball and having multiple players score in double digits. It's nice to be back in Patrick. Quick turnaround for us to refocus on Bucknell in the championship of our tournament."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts shot a blistering 66.7% in the first quarter establishing an 18-7 lead after the opening ten minutes.
• Vermont opened the second quarter on a 9-3 run to balloon it's lead to 17 2:53 into the period. Josie Larkins hit two three-pointers in the quarter part of her game-high 15 points and the Catamounts took a 38-22 lead into the half.
• Vermont blew the game wide open with its best third quarter of the season, scoring 26 points. Emma Utterback had 10 points in the period and UVM used a 9-0 run over 99 seconds to push the advantage to 32.
• First year guard Bella Vito scored her first collegiate bucket to open the fourth quarter for the Catamounts. She was one of 11 Catamounts to find the scoresheet Saturday, UVM had 27 points from its bench.
• Brown cut the UVM lead to 26 with 3:39 left in the contest but that was as close as they'd come as the Catamounts snapped their three-game skid leading for 37:31 of game action.  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• First year Maria Myklebust set a new career-high with 11 points. She also added an assist and three rebounds in 19:06 of game action.
• UVM assisted on 25 of its buckets this afternoon a new season-high. Josie Larkins led the way for Vermont with six assists.
• Larkins played in her 100th career game for the Catamounts Saturday. The graduate standout for the Catamounts has started in 73 games for Vermont over her career averaging 8.8 points-per game.
• Emma Utterback had four steals for the Catamounts Saturday which she converted into instant offense with seven points in transition. UVM scored 29 points off Brown turnovers Saturday.

WHO'S NEXT
Vermont will face Bucknell in the TD Bank Classic Championship game at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon from Patrick Gym. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 with Cooper Boardman and Bernie Cieplicki on the call.
 
North Dakota will face Brown in the consolation game at 11 a.m. The game will also air on ESPN3.

Rise to the Top is the presenting sponsor of Vermont women's basketball