WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (7-4) will finish their non-conference schedule against Holy Cross (8-2) on the road on Tuesday (Dec. 20) at 10:30 a.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with the voice of Catamounts women's basketball, Ryan Zimmerman, on the call on WVMT. You can listen on the web or download the app to listen here.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch Live | Live Stats
 
NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
The Catamounts look to record their eighth non-conference win on the season which would be the most under Mayer Women's Head Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. The Catamounts have twice recorded six non-conference wins in Coach Kresge's reign (2019-20 and 2021-22). This season's non-conference schedule was one of the toughest under Coach Kresge with games featuring nationally ranked Indiana on the road, before playing other tough matchups against Miami (OH), Delaware, Dartmouth, Duquesne and Siena. Vermont saw their longest regular season winning streak under Kresge completing six straight victories across November and December.  The game against the Crusaders will mark the fifth consecutive non-conference road game of the season, which is the longest stretch under Kresge.
 
CAT(S) AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
Sophomore guard Catherine Gilwee is ranked third in the country with 37 three pointers made while her 77 attempts are ranked 30th in the nation. Her 48.1 percent from behind the arc is ranked 26th in the nation while none of the players ahead of her have attempted as many threes as Gilwee. Emma Utterback is tied for 33rd in the country with 53 total assists and her 4.8 per game is tied for 45th in the nation. Utterback's 15.2 points per game has her ranked 165th in the country. As a team the Catamounts are shooting 37.97 percent from deep which is ranked 19th nationally. Vermont's 43.6 percent shooting from the field has them ranked 84th in the country.
 
NET RANKINGS
The current 2022-23 NET rankings were released on December 16, 2022, with Vermont leading the America East at 156. Maine followed UVM at 179 while UAlbany rounded out the top three for the America East coming in at 239.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 18th all-time matchup between the two teams with Vermont holding a 9-8 lead. The last time these two teams competed Vermont fell at home 65-40 on November 28, 2018. Both teams have earned a series-high four game win streak throughout the years with Holy Cross seizing the first four games of the matchup from '82-'90. Vermont won four consecutive matchups from '06-'10. Overall, the Catamounts are 3-7 on the road against the Crusaders.
 
VERMONT AGAINST THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Catamounts hold a 65-58 advantage against the Patriot League with their most familiar matchup coming against former America East foe Boston University. Boston University holds the series lead 39-36 winning the last matchup 57-41 at Patrick Gym on December 3, 2017. Vermont went 1-2 against the Patriot League last season defeating Navy on the road and falling to American on road the overtime. The Catamounts also fell to Bucknell 68-53 in the TD Bank Classic Championship. UVM has already played a Patriot League team this season defeating Army 60-37 at home on November 21.
 
SCOUTING HOLY CROSS
The Crusaders are averaging 60.9 points per game on 41.0 percent shooting from the field and 31.6 percent from three point range. On the defensive end, Holy Cross is forcing 14.9 turnovers per game, and they are registering 7.6 steals and 2.7 blocks per game and holding opponents to 53.8 points per game on 35.2 percent shooting. The Crusaders are led by junior Bronagh Power-Cassidy who is averaging 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game on 43.2 percent shooting from the field. Sophomore forward Lindsay Berger is second on the team with 11.9 points while leading the team with 7.6 boards per game on a team-high 52.4 percent shooting. Junior Janelle Allen is averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 boards and 2.0 assists per game. First year guard Kaitlyn Flanagan is leading the team with 3.7 assists per game to go along with 6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
 
UP NEXT
The Catamounts will begin America East play on Thursday, December 29 when they face UAlbany on the road. The start time for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Ryan Zimmerman will be on the call on the radio on WVMT.