WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The three-seed Vermont Catamounts (20-10, 13-5) will face the two-seed UAlbany (21-9, 13-5) Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in UVM's first America East Semifinal appearance since 2013. Tuesday's contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rich Becker on the call. Fans can also listen for free on the Vermont Sports Network from Learfield on WVMT. The radio broadcast is also available via the Varsity Network App with Cooper Boardman on the call.  

RELATED LINKS
Listen Live | Live Stats | Live Video (ESPN+)
America East Playoffs Central
America East Digital Program
CatamounTV Preview: Coach Kresge | Olson
 
UTTERBACK UNSTOPPABLE DOWN THE STRETCH
Junior guard Emma Utterback has been unstoppable for the Catamounts down the stretch in America East. In the last seven games, she's averaged 18.9 points per game. She had 19 points in 39 minutes of action in the quarterfinals against Binghamton. In the regular season finale, she picked up a career-high 25 points in a win at UMass Lowell. She was also named the America East Player of the Week twice in a row to close out the regular season. Last week, she was named First Team All-Conference for the first time in her career.
 
THREE STARTERS IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Three of Vermont's four starters who have started every game this season – Emma Utterback (13.4 PPG), Josie Larkins (11.3 PPG) and Anna Olson (12.3 PPG) are leading the Catamounts all scoring in double figures. All three of them play an average of 30.3 minutes or more per game. One of the three of them has led UVM in scoring in 27 of its 30 games this season and each of the last 14 games. All three earned All-Conference honors, Utterback was named to the first team, Olson the second team and Larkins the third team.
 
RICHASON A BIG INDICATOR FOR SUCCESS
UVM is now 14-1 this season when junior forward Delaney Richason reaches double figures in scoring. Richason posted a career-high 19 points in the Catamounts regular season finale a 64-44 win over UMass Lowell.
 
LARKINS HAVING A CAREER-YEAR FROM DOWNTOWN
Larkins is tied for 28th in the NCAA with 74 made three-pointers this season. Her 74 made triples are a new single-season record at Vermont. She is shooting 39.6 percent from downtown which is 40th in the country. She has made 234 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 10-2 this season. In the quarterfinal against Binghamton with 2:16 to go Larkins buried a huge three-pointer to give Vermont the lead for good. It keyed a 7-0 run over 50 seconds that saw UVM pull away.
 
ALL STARTS ON THE DEFENSIVE END
UVM is second in America East and 11th in the NCAA on the defensive end this season giving up 53.9 points per game. In the Catamounts 20 wins this year they've given up just 48.9 points per game. Vermont is also second in America East averaging 4.3 blocked shots per game.
 
CATAMOUNTS BACK TO THEIR WINNING WAYS
Vermont reached 19 regular season wins for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign. UVM also had 13 conference wins which is their best conference mark since the same season.
 
SCOUTING UALBANY
First year guard Freja Werth hit a three-pointer with 2:04 left in regulation to give the Great Danes a four-point lead they wouldn't relinquish in their 49-44 win over UNH in the quarterfinals. With the win UA improved to 15-1 at SEFCU Arena this season. Their only loss at home this season was to Maine.
 
UAlbany's defense is ranked second in the NCAA giving up just 48.5 points per game. They are 34th in the NCAA holding teams to a 36.4 field goal percentage this season. In the final game of the regular season UAlbany overcame a 16-point fourth quarter deficit hosting Stony Brook to secure home court advantage over Vermont in this contest.
 
Sophomore Kayla Cooper (11.2 PPG) and junior Helene Haegerstrand (12.0 PPG) lead the team in scoring this season. Haegerstrand was the Great Danes leading scorer in both games against Vermont this season. She had 21 points at SEFCU Arena and 12 at Patrick Gym. She hit two three-pointers in each contest.
 
The Great Danes are undefeated at home in America East postseason action. From 2012 to now they are 13-0 at home, including six straight America East title game wins at SEFCU Arena.
 
SERIES HISTORY
UAlbany leads the overall series between the two teams 25-23. The contests between Mayer Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge and UAlbany's Colleen Mullen have been split in six games at 3-3. The teams faced off twice in three days last month. The Great Danes bested UVM 54-52 at SEFCU Arena and two days later UVM won 63-55 at Patrick Gym.
 
Vermont is 1-5 all-time against the Great Danes in the America East Tournament. UAlbany has won five straight postseason contests against the Catamounts. From 2014-2018 UA ended Vermont's season in four straight years. UVM's win came in 2010 as UVM defeated the Great Danes 61-36 in West Hartford on route to the program's sixth conference title. The Catamounts have never played UAlbany in the semifinals and have never faced the Great Danes at their home in the postseason. Vermont is 1-2 in three postseason games played at SEFCU Arena, all neutral site contests.
 
AMERICA EAST TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Vermont is 36-25 all-time in the America East tournament. They have advanced to 20 semifinals, 11 America East title games, and won the championship six times. The Catamounts last title came in 2010 in a 55-50 win over Hartford. Vermont's last appearance in the America East semifinals came on March 10, 2013 against Hartford. The Catamounts fell 64-33 in a game held at UAlbany's SEFCU Arena.
 
GILWEE NAMED AMERICA EAST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Vermont claimed the America East Rookie of the Year for the second straight season with Shelburne, Vt. native Catherine Gilwee earning the accolade. It is just the third time in America East history a team has won the honor two years in a row. Gilwee started 21 games in her first collegiate season for the Catamounts. In America East play she's averaged 2.7 assists per game, which ranks 10th in the league. She was the top first year in the category. Gilwee has averaged 28.4 minutes per game this season. She scored a career-high 15 points in both of the Catamounts contests with Stony Brook. She is the fifth Catamount to earn Rookie of the Year and the second from the state of Vermont. Gilwee was also named to the America East All-Rookie Team.
 
Rise to the Top is the presenting sponsor of Vermont women's basketball