BURLINGTON, Vt. – Down four with 29 seconds to go the Catamounts completed an unlikely comeback hitting five free throws down the stretch to stun UMass Lowell in a 56-55 win at Patrick Gym Saturday afternoon. With the win, Vermont improved to 7-4 in league play while the River Hawks fell to 3-4.
 
Saturday was also the Catamounts annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day presented by the Vermont Mutual Insurance Group. Young girls in the community served in several athletic department roles Saturday – videographers, ticket takers, announcers, marketing staff and more.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score (.pdf)
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COACH'S QUOTE
"Proud of our team's ability to fight through a gritty win and play a full 40 minutes," Mayer Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge said. "We were able to hit some big FT's at the end of the game to seal it the win for us."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Josie Larkins hit back-to-back three pointers early in a first quarter that featured three ties but the River Hawks used an 11-2 run over 4:07 of game action to take a 18-12 lead. After a pair of Emma Utterback free throws the River Hawks carried a four-point edge into the second quarter.
• UMass Lowell used an 8-2 run in the first 3:01 of the second quarter to claim a 26-19 lead. Anna Olson had four points in the second quarter and UMass Lowell took a four-point lead to the half.
• Midway through the third quarter Anna Olson had six points in a 9-2 UVM run that put the Catamounts up by five with 1:45 to go in frame.
• The fourth quarter started as the Kharis Idom show for the River Hawks. She went on an individual 10-2 run over 2:41 to give UMass Lowell a two-point lead with 3:40 to go.
• Idom hit a three-pointer with 42 seconds left in regulation to give the River Hawks a five-point lead. Down four after an exchange of free throws Anna Olson drew a foul with 23 seconds to go and a River Hawks player was also given a technical foul after the initial call. Larkins and Olson hit all four free throws to tie the game at 55. Crucially after the technical foul call UVM also got the ball.
• With 4.2 seconds left to play Olson was fouled again on a drive to the rim. She hit the first free throw giving UVM a 56-55 lead but missed the second. After a Lowell timeout to advance the ball the River Hawks had a chance for the win. Idom got an open look at a three-pointer at the buzzer, but her rushed attempt went wide left.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Josie Larkins continued her great run from downtown this season hitting four three-pointers and putting up 18 points. It was the sixth time this season she has hit four or more triples.
• Anna Olson had a team-high 19 points Saturday. She's been UVM's leading scorer in seven games this season.
• With today's win Vermont improved to three games over .500 in conference play this season with a record of 7-4. They sit in fourth place a half game behind Maine. NJIT currently sits in fifth place with a record of 5-5. UVM holds the tiebreaker with the Highlanders after sweeping the season series this year.
• With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.

WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts hit the road to face Binghamton Wednesday night at 7 p.m. 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.

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