WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (14-9, 8-4) returns to action this weekend as they face second-place UAlbany (16-7, 9-3) in a crucial two-game set. Today the teams will tip-off at 1 p.m. from SEFCU Arena and then on Monday the teams will do battle at Patrick Gym at noon. Both games will air live on ESPN3. Fans can also listen live with Cooper Boardman on the call on AM 620 WVMT.
RELATED LINKS
Saturday:
Listen Live | Live Stats | Live Video (ESPN3)
Monday: Listen Live | Live Stats | Live Video (ESPN3)
THREE STARTERS IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Three of Vermont's four starters who have started every game this season –
Emma Utterback (11.7 PPG),
Josie Larkins (11.5 PPG) and
Anna Olson (12.0 PPG) are leading the Catamounts all scoring in double figures. All three of them play an average of 29.7 minutes or more per game. One of the three of them has led UVM in scoring in 19 of its 23 games this season and each of the last nine games.
LARKINS HAVING A CAREER-YEAR FROM DOWNTOWN
Larkins is second on the team in scoring this season with 11.5 points per game. She is 22nd in the NCAA with 59 made three-pointers this season. She is shooting 39.3 percent from downtown which is tied for 51st in the country. She has made 219 career three-pointers which ranks second all-time at UVM. In games where Larkins hits three or more three-pointers in a game UVM is 7-2 this season. UVM's last contest against Binghamton was the first game this year Larkins didn't convert from downtown.
ALL STARTS ON THE DEFENSIVE END
UVM is second in America East and 12th in the NCAA on the defensive end this season giving up 53.7 points per game. In the Catamounts 13 wins this year they've given up just 46.5 points per game. The Great Danes are the top defensive team in the country giving up just 47.7 points per game. Vermont is also second in America East averaging 3.8 blocked shots per game. UVM forward
Anna Olson is second in the league averaging 1.2 blocks per game.
CATAMOUNTS BACK TO THEIR WINNING WAYS
With six games left in the regular season Vermont has reached 14 regular season wins for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign. UVM also has eight conference wins which is their best conference mark since the same season. UVM hasn't been above .500 in a full conference season since the 2009-10 campaign either.
SCOUTING UALBANY
The Great Danes America East resurgence has been fueled on the defensive side of the ball. In addition, to the best points per game defense in the NCAA UAlbany is 27th in the country holding its opponents to 35.9% shooting. Sophomore
Kayla Cooper (12.4 PPG) and junior
Helene Haegerstrand (11.3 PPG) lead the team in scoring this season. Cooper is fifth in the league in scoring. UAlbany leads the series 24-22. The contests between Mayer Women's Basketball Coach
Alisa Kresge and UAlbany's Colleen Mullen have been split in four games at 2-2.
The Great Danes will be looking to rebound Saturday from a 64-55 loss at Maine on Wednesday. The Black Bears moved into a tie for second place with the win over UAlbany. Both teams now sit at 9-3. The nine-point loss snapped a five-game win streak by the Great Danes.
Rise to the Top is the presenting sponsor of Vermont women's basketball
