DURHAM, NH – Women's basketball extened their longest winning streak since 2002 to 11 games with a hard-fought 43-36 victory over New Hampshire on the road on Wednesday night. With the victory the Catamounts improved to 19-6 overall and 11-2 in America East play while the Wildcats fall to 7-18 overall and 2-11 in conference play.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Winning on the road in February is a grind," said Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. "We did not have our best but still found a way. We had a few timely baskets down the stretch but our defense and rebounding was the difference."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• New Hampshire jumped out to an early lead outscoring the Catamounts 12-6 in the first quarter. First year Avery O'Connor led the way with seven first quarter points for the Wildcats. Catherine Gilwee led Vermont with four points with a three-pointer and one free throw.
• The Catamounts battled back in the second quarter going on a 13-3 run throughout the quarter to open up a 19-15 lead heading into halftime. Delaney Richason led the way for UVM with five points while Paula Gonzalez had four points for the Catamounts.
• Emma Utterback began the run with a layup with 8:45 remaining and Richason capped it off with a three with 3:13 remaining to give Vermont their four-point advantage heading into the break.
• Both teams struggled to find their offense in the third quarter with UVM outscoring UNH 8-7 over the first 5:43 of the second half. Richason again led the way for the Catamounts with five points while Paige Cote, Brooke Kane and Breezie Williams scored two points each for the Wildcats.
• New Hampshire battled over the next three minutes and was able to draw even 4-4 and keep it within five heading into the fourth quarter, 31-26.
• Vermont had the answer to start the fourth quarter going on a 6-3 spurt to open up a 37-29 lead with 4:35 remaining, one the Catamounts would not relinquish. Utterback scored four while Anna Olson added two for Vermont.
• Vermont was able to hold on over the final four plus minutes with New Hampshire outscoring the Catamounts 7-6 to give the game its final score of 43-36. Richason and Gilwee each added three for the Catamounts while Adara Groman had three for the Wildcats and Lucia Melero and Williams each added two points.  

 
INISDE THE BOX SCORE

• Richason finished with a game-high 15 points to go with five rebounds and one assist.
• Gilwee finished with seven points on 40.0% (2-5) shooting from three to go with one steal and five rebounds.
• Utterback finished with nine points, four assists and four rebounds in 36 minutes of action.
• Vermont outrebounded New Hampshire 40-26.
• The Catamounts shot 35.6% (16-45) while holding the Wildcats to just 28.0% (14-50) from the floor in the game.
• With tonight's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Youth Center as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.  
• With five three-pointers made by Vermont, M&T Bank will be donating $125 to the Vermont Foodbank. With a community bank approach, M&T Bank helps people reach their personal and business goals with banking, mortgage, loan and investment services.

 
WHAT'S NEXT
After tonight's victory over New Hampshire the Catamounts will return to Patrick Gym to take on NJIT on Saturday (Feb. 18). The start time for the game is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Ryan Zimmerman, the voice of Catamounts women's basketball will be on the radio call on WVMT. 
 
RALLY AGAINST CANCER 
Saturday's game with NJIT will be the Catamounts annual Rally Against Cancer game Presented by Mascoma Bank. Please consider making a gift to support the important work of the UVM Cancer Center. Your support is critical to providing top-notch clinical care and advancing cancer research right here in our community. Mascoma Bank bolsters its support and commitment by pledging to match up to $10,000 for the Rally Against Cancer game through the month of February. If you are interested, please donate here. To find out more information about other upcoming Rally Against Cancer games as well as how you can get involved, please visit https://uvmathletics.com/sports/2015/9/2/MKT_0902151913.aspx?path=mkt.