BURLINGTON, Vt. – Josie Larkins and Emma Utterback each had 17 points as Vermont used a strong third quarter to earn its ninth conference win of the season defeating UAlbany 63-55 in a Valentine's Day matinee from Patrick Gym. With four games left in the regular season the Catamounts are now a single game back of the Great Danes for the two-seed in the America East Playoffs.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"Today was a great home court win against a very tough defensive match up," Mayer Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge said. "I'm proud of our team's ability to make adjustments and a quick response from our loss on Saturday. At this point in the season, the teams that make toughness plays and have grit are the teams that come out on top."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a back and forth first quarter Delaney Richason hit from downtown and Catherine Gilwee scored in transition as Vermont scored five points in 42 seconds to take a 15-13 lead after the opening ten minutes.
• A 7-0 run in the second quarter saw the Great Danes take a game-high five-point advantage with 5:23 left in the half. After Anna Olson converted a couple of opportunities in the paint Utterback canned a jumper with 39 seconds left to tie game at 31 headed to the half.
• Over 3:25 of game action in the third quarter UVM used a 10-0 run to seize control of the game. Utterback and Larkins each had four points in the run. At the buzzer Sarah Wells put a rebound up and in to give UVM a 45-35 edge heading to the fourth.
• In the fourth quarter the Great Danes cut the Vermont lead to three on two occasions. America East Rookie of the Week Freja Werth hit two free throws to make it 55-52 with 2:53 to go.
• Down the stretch Larkins made another jumper and Utterback added three free throws on push the lead back to eight with 1:24 to go. The Great Danes would never get it under five again as the Catamount secured their 10th home win of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vermont didn't have a single turnover in the first quarter and matched a season-low with just nine in the game.
• In Vermont's last 18 games Emma Utterback has eight points or more in all of them. In conference play she is averaging a team-high 12.9 points per game.
• Anna Olson and Delaney Richason each had two blocked shots Monday. Olson leads the team with 31 blocks this season.

WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts will host New Hampshire on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. in their annual Rally Against Cancer game from Patrick Gym. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can also listen live on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield IMG College on WVMT with Cooper Boardman on the call.

Players will be wearing special edition jerseys that will be auctioned off online at uvmathletics.com/auctions starting at tip off. Proceeds will benefit the University of Vermont Cancer Center. 

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