WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts (11-6, 3-2 AE) will travel to take on Maine (8-8, 4-0 AE), who is just one of two undefeated teams in conference play in the America East this season, on Wednesday (Jan.18) night. The matchup is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Ryan Zimmerman, the voice of Catamounts women's basketball, will be on the call on the radio on WVMT. 
 
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AMERICA EAST RANKINGS
The Catamounts have turned around their early conference season with three straight victories over Bryant on the road, and two home wins versus New Hampshire and UMass Lowell to improve to 3-2 in the America East. Vermont is one of three teams in the America East with an overall record above .500 coming in at 11-6. UAlbany leads the conference at 12-8 and 6-0 in conference play followed by Maine who comes in at 8-8 but are the only other defeated team in conference play at 4-0 in the America East. Vermont is currently third behind Maine followed by Binghamton who is the only other team above .500 coming in at 10-8 with a 3-2 record in the America East. UMBC and NJIT are the other two teams with a 3-2 record in conference play to round out the top six teams in the America East.
 
AMONG THE AMERICA EAST LEADERS
The Catamounts are second in the conference in scoring with 61.7 per game and first in points allowed and scoring margin, giving up just 55.6 points per game with a plus 6.1 scoring margin. Vermont is third in team field goal percentage (42.3 percent) and lead the conference in opponent field goal percentage (37.7 percent). UVM also ranks first in the conference in three point percentage converting 37.02 percent of their chances behind the arc, with the next closest team being UAlbany coming in at 35.3 percent. Vermont has the least turnovers in the conference with 13.9 per game and their 0.59 margin is second, while their assist to turnover ratio is first in the America East. The Catamounts have three of the top 11 scorers in the conference and are led by Utterback's 14.1 per game which is fourth in the conference. Anna Olson ranks 11th with 11.2 points and Gilwee is eighth with 11.8 points per contest. Olson is also fifth in the conference with 6.8 rebounds per contest, while Gilwee leads the America East in three point percentage knocking down 44.4 percent of her threes. Olson is also sixth in field goal percentage at 46.6 percent, while Gilwee is 10th at 42.3 percent and Utterback is 11th at 41.1 percent from the field.
 
CATAMOUNTS STILL AMONG NATIONS BEST
Emma Utterback is leading the team in scoring this season with 14.1 points per game. She is currently fourth in the America East in scoring and is tied for 216th nationally. Utterback is also 11th in the conference knocking down 41.1 percent of her shots from the field. Utterback is 88th in the country with 72 total assists and her 4.2 assists is 87th nationally and first in the America East. Her 1.9 assist to turnover ratio is second in the conference. Catherine Gilwee has shot the ball well this season season ranking 37th (42.11 percent) in the nation in three point percentage, while being ranked 68th in three point attempts with 114. Her 2.82 threes made per game has her 26th in the country in three pointers made per game and her 48 makes is tied for 21st nationally. As a team Vermont is shooting 37.02 percent from three which has them ranked 16th nationally, while their 42.3 percent shooting from the field is third in the conference and ranked 117th in the country. Defensively their 55.6 points allowed per game is first in the conference and 21st in the nation while holding teams to just 37.7 percent from the field (78th in the country and first in America East). Their 29.1 percent three point percentage allowed is ranked 103rd in the country.
 
NET RANKINGS
The current 2022-23 NET rankings were released on January 16, 2023, with Vermont leading the America East, coming in at 179. Maine followed the Catamounts at 181 while UAlbany rounded out the top three for the America East coming in at 189. Binghamton and NJIT are the other America East teams in the top 300 coming in at 283 and 296 respectively.
 
SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS
Maine enters Wednesday's matchup with an 8-8 overall record and are one of only two undefeated teams in America East play at 4-0. The Black Bears defeated Bryant, UMass Lowell, NJIT and UMBC in conference while their other four wins came against Army, Niagara, Northeastern and James Madison. Maine is currently sitting second in the America East Conference. On offense, Maine is averaging 59.9 points per game on 43.0 percent shooting from the field and 34.1 percent from three. They are also converting 71.3 percent of their threes and grabbing down 32.5 rebounds per contest. On the defensive side, they are allowing 62.8 points per game on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 27.0 percent from beyond the arc. They are also averaging 5.7 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. The Black Bears were selected second in the America East Preseason Poll receiving 54 points (0 first place) and senior guard Anne Simon was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Maine is led by sophomore forward Adrianna Smith, who is the back-to-back America East Player of the Week and is averaging 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per contest on 52.5 percent shooting. Simon is averaging 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Junior Caroline Bornemann leads the team with 18 steals on the season to go with 10.6 points, 6.2 boards and 1.3 assists per contest.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 100th matchup all-time between the Black Bears and the Catamounts. Maine leads the series 65-34, having won the last 10 matchups including sweeping the season matchup last season 64-58 at Patrick Gym (Dec. 30) and 58-37 at home (Jan. 30). Across those two games last season Anna Olson averaged 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 block and 1.5 assists while shooting 81.8 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. Emma Utterback registered 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the two matchups with Maine last season. The longest winning streak for either side has been 12 games. The Black Bears won 12 straight from 1986 to 1991 and the Catamounts won 12 consecutive matchups from 2006 to 2011.
 
WHO'S NEXT
Following the Catamounts matchup with the Black Bears Vermont will continue on the road at NJIT on Saturday, January 21. The start time for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Ryan Zimmerman, the voice of Catamounts women's basketball, will be on the call on the radio on WVMT.
 
NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY
The University of Vermont Women's Basketball team will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day powered by Vermont Mutual on Saturday, February 4th during their game against UAlbany at 12 P.M. On February 4th, girls from the local community with an interest in sports and being involved in this celebration will have the opportunity to become members of the UVM Athletic Staff for the day. Girls between fourth and eighth grade can apply to a wide variety of positions including: Public Address Announcer, Marketing Assistant, Ticket Staff, and many more! Participants will be able to work in the position for one half of the game, the other half they will be able to watch the game with their family. To apply, please visit https://uvmathletics.com/sb_output.aspx?form=126