BURLINGTON, VT – The Catamounts trailed by as many as seven points to Holy Cross but rallied to come away with a 46-44 victory on Sunday afternoon in their Vermont Day Game. With the win the Catamounts improved to 5-4 on the season, while with the defeat the Crusaders fall to 3-4.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
CatamounTV Highlights
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"When we were playing our best basketball, we were assertive and we weren't letting them push us around," said Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. "Today was a learning opportunity for this group. We're going to study this and learn from it. In the second half, I think we were able to get people in the right places to take advantage and create some good looks. It's just finding a way to win right now and thankfully we found a way today."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams battled over the first five plus minutes of the game with Vermont taking a 7-6 lead into the first media timeout.
• Holy Cross responded by outscoring Vermont 9-4 over the final four plus minutes of the first quarter to take a 15-11 lead into the break. Emma Utterback led all scorers with six points after the first quarter, while Janelle Allen had four for the Crusaders.
• Both teams started slow in the second quarter. Over time, Holy Cross built their lead to 20-13 with 4:13 remaining following an Allen free throw.
• Vermont responded with a 7-0 run over the final three plus minutes to send the game into the halftime break tied at 20. Bella Vito knocked down a key three with 1:15 remaining to help lead the Cats run.
• The two teams stepped up their defensive efforts again to start the second half and neither team was able to get many good looks. Holy Cross seized a 25-22 lead after a Bronagh Power-Cassidy jumper with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter.
• Following the media timeout Vermont found their offense doubling up Holy Cross 8-4, to take a 30-29 lead into the final quarter.
• Paula Gonzalez started the scoring in the fourth quarter on Vermont's first possession with a shot in the paint to put UVM up 32-29.
• The Crusaders captured momentum with a 9-2 run to take a 38-34 lead following an Allen layup with 5:33 remaining in the game.
• Vermont did not falter and responded with a jumper from Delaney Richason and multiple free throws from Vito and Utterback to take the lead 41-40 with 3:09 remaining.
• Following Utterback's free throw Power-Cassidy knocked down two of her own on the other end to give Holy Cross a 42-41 lead with 1:29 remaining.
• Utterback hit a clutch shot in the lane and Vito knocked down key jumper to help Vermont secure a 46-44 victory.
• With the victory Vermont Mutual will donate $100 to the King Street Center.
• Vermont Federal Credit Union will donate $25 to Vermont Works for Women with the Catamounts victory at Patrick tonight.
• With the one three pointer made by the Catamounts at home tonight, M&T Bank will donate $25 to the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV).

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Utterback led all scorers with 13 points alongside four rebounds and two assists.
• Vito recorded her first double-double of the season, and second in her career, finishing with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
• Olson finished with nine points and three rebounds on 4-for-7 shooting.
• Gonzalez finished with six points, five rebounds and tied Utterback with a game-high two blocks.
• Vermont shot 37.3 percent from the floor and held Holy Cross to only 29.8 percent from the field.
• The Catamounts held Holy Cross to just 2-for-16 (12.5 percent) from three.

 
UP NEXT
Following today's meeting with Holy Cross the Catamounts will be on the road for a two game trip next week. Vermont will begin the road trip at Army on Wednesday, December 6 at 5 p.m. before concluding their trip with Manhattan on Saturday, December 9 at 12 p.m. Both of those games will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball