WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Catamounts (9-6, 1-2 AE) will host the New Hampshire Wildcats (5-10, 0-3 AE) in another America East conference clash at Patrick Gym on Saturday afternoon. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Ryan Zimmerman will be on the call on the radio on WVMT.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch Live: ESPN3 | International
Listen | Live Stats | Tickets
 
WOMEN'S HOCKEY YOUTH DAY
On Saturday, the Vermont women's hockey team will have their Youth Day presented by Healthy Living, where there will be lawn games, dress like a Catamount station, arts and crafts, and small giveaways from Healthy Living. Free admission to the women's hockey game for all kids 12 and younger and after the game, there will be a post-game skate with the cats. It's also free admission to everyone who presents their ticket from the women's basketball game earlier in the day.
 
CATAMOUNTS RANKED NATIONALLY IN STATS
Emma Utterback is leading the team in scoring this season with 14.4 points per game. She is currently ranked second in the America East in scoring and is tied for 208th nationally. Utterback is also 12th in the conference knocking down 41.0 percent of her shots from the field. Utterback is tied for 57th in the country with 65 total assists and her 4.3 assists is 84th nationally and first in the America East. Catherine Gilwee has had a hot shooting start to the season ranking 28th (44.44 percent) in the nation in three point percentage, while being ranked 53rd in three point attempts. Her 2.93 threes made per game has her 16th in the country in three pointers made per game and her 44 makes is tied for 14th nationally. As a team Vermont is shooting 38.1 percent from three which has them ranked 10th nationally, while their 42.6 percent shooting from the field is ranked 108th in the country. Defensively their 56.9 points allowed per game is 44th in the nation while holding teams to just 37.8 percent from the field (92nd in the country). Their 29.2 percent three point percentage allowed is ranked 120th in the country.
 
NET RANKING
The current 2022-23 NET rankings were released on January 4, 2023, with Vermont leading the America East, coming in at 176. Maine followed UVM at 201 while UAlbany rounded out the top three for the America East coming in at 206. Binghamton, NJIT and UMBC are the other America East teams in the top 300 coming in at 280, 293 and 298, respectively.
 
AMERICA EAST PLAY
The Catamounts got back on track with a road victory over Bryant on Wednesday night to improve to 1-2 in conference play. Vermont is one of three teams in the America East with a winning overall record coming in at 9-6. UAlbany leads the conference at 9-8 and 3-0 in conference play followed by NJIT at 7-7 and 2-0 in America East play. Maine rounds out the top three and is the only other undefeated team in conference play coming in at 6-8 and 2-0 in the America East. The Catamounts are second in the conference in scoring with 62.3 per game and first in points allowed and scoring margin, giving up just 56.9 points per game with a plus 5.4 scoring margin. Vermont is also first in team field goal percentage (42.6 percent) and leads the conference in opponent field goal percentage (37.8 percent). UVM also ranks first in the conference in three point percentage converting 38.1 percent of their chances behind the arc. The Catamounts have three of the top 10 scorers in the conference and are led by Utterback's 14.4 per game which is second in the conference. Anna Olson ranks 10th with 11.9 points and Gilwee is tied for eighth with 12.0 points per contest. Olson is also fifth in the conference with 6.9 rebounds per contest, while Gilwee leads the America East in three point percentage knocking down 44.4 percent of her threes.
 
SCOUTING NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Wildcats enter Saturday's matchup with a 5-10 overall record and 0-3 in America East play averaging 54.0 points per game on 35.3 percent shooting from the floor and 27.8 percent from deep. On the defensive side, UNH is giving up 61.7 points per contest on 38.8 percent shooting and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, while registering 6.7 steals and 2.4 blocks per game. New Hampshire is led by first year guard Avery O'Connor who is sixth in the conference with 12.4 points per game to go with 5.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per contest. Brooke Kane is second on the team and tied for eighth in the conference with 12.0 points per game to go along with her team-leading 6.0 rebounds per contest which is also ranked eighth in the America East. First year guard Breezie Williams is leading the Wildcats with 2.3 assists per game to go with 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds (both third on the team) while starting all 15 games for the Wildcats.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 89th matchup all-time between the two teams with Vermont boasting a 48-40 record in their previous matchups. The first game between the two schools came during the 1976-77 season where Vermont earned a 72-55 victory. Vermont has won three straight matchups including sweeping the season series 61-58 and 60-37 last season. A season ago Utterback had her way with the Wildcats averaging 16.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists on an efficient 11-19 (57.9 percent) shooting. Olson was a force down low averaging 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds to go with 1.0 assist across the two games. Delaney Richason registered 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in her two matchups with UNH last season.
 
WHO'S NEXT
Following their matchup with New Hampshire Vermont will host UMass Lowell at Patrick Gym on Wednesday, January 11 in their annual Catamount Kids Classroom Game. To purchase tickets to the game, you can visit uvmathletics.com/tickets or visit the ticket kiosk on game day. The start time for that game is scheduled for 11 a.m. and it 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.
 
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