WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (12-7, 4-1 AE) hosts America East foe UMass Lowell (3-15, 3-3 AE) in their annual Catamount Classroom Game on Thursday (Jan. 25) morning. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday morning's matchup with the River Hawks will be broadcast live on
ESPN+. The international stream will also be available via AmericaEast.TV. Fans can listen to the game for free on the
Varsity Network App, from Learfield on WVMT, which will air on 96.3 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 620 AM around the rest of the region, with Ryan Zimmerman on the call.
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Preview: Coach Kresge | Olson
Game Notes: Vermont | UMass Lowell
Watch Live on ESPN+
International Stream
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
Purchase Tickets
1000 POINT SCORERS
The Catamounts have three 1000 point scorers on their team this season. Earlier this season,
Anna Olson and
Delaney Richason joined
Emma Utterback as 1000 point scorers in Vermont history. Olson became the 25th member of Catamount country to score 1000 points, while Richason became the 26th member in Vermont program history to score 1000 points. The Catamounts are the only current team in the America East to have three active 1000 point scorers on their roster. Vermont is also just one of 32 teams across the nation with three or more 1000 point scorers. Utterback leads the way and is ninth in program history with 1,560 points in her career. Utterback is also currently 64th in the nation in career points. Olson sits in 22nd in program history with 1,046 career points while Richason is just behind in 24th with 1,010 career points.
TRIPLE THREAT
The combination of Olson, Richason and Utterback have accounted for 59.1 percent of the Catamounts points this season. The combination of the three also accounts for 39.3 percent of the Catamounts' rebounds and 55.7 percent of the team's blocks. Utterback (15.4), Olson (11.5) and Richason (7.3) are ranked first, second and third on Vermont in scoring this season.
AMONG THE BEST IN AMERICA EAST
The Catamounts are second in the conference in scoring defense allowing just 53.7 points per game, which is ranked top 15 in the country. UVM is third in the conference in scoring margin at +4.2 per game. The Catamounts are third in field goal percentage (42.7) and second in opponent field goal percentage (38.4). Vermont is just one of three teams with two scorers in the top 10 in scoring in America East. Utterback ranks fifth in the conference averaging 15.4 points per game. Olson is ninth in the league in scoring at 11.5 points per game while leading the conference in shooting percentage at 58.1 percent per game. Olson is also 13th in rebounds per game at 5.9 per game. Utterback is eighth in the conference in shooting percentage at 45.3 percent per contest and leads America East in assists per game at 4.6 per game. Richason is sixth in the league in blocks per game at 0.9 and is fifth in total blocks at 18, while Olson is seventh in total blocks at 16 and ninth in blocks per contest at 0.8.
TOP 100 NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Catamounts rank in the top 100 in a number of important categories this season. Vermont is surrendering just 53.7 points per game which is 13th in the country while their three point percentage allowed (27.6) is 52nd in the nation. On the offensive end, Vermont is ranked 17th nationally in turnovers per game at just 12.8, while their assist to turnover ratio (1.04) is 73rd in the country. Vermont is also 12th in fouls per game with just 13.1 and are 95th in blocks per game at 3.7. Utterback is tied for 69th with 4.6 assists per game and is tied for 53rd in total assists with 87 on the season. Olson's 58.1 percent shooting percentage per game is ranked 26th in the nation.
NET RANKINGS
Maine currently leads America East with a NET Rating of 108, followed by UAlbany (114) in second and Vermont (158) in third who are all in the top 200. Bryant (276) and New Hampshire (278) are also in the top 300.
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell enters Thursday morning's matchup with 3-15 record. The River Hawks were unable to claim a win in their non-conference schedule but have gone 3-3 in America East play. On the offensive end, the River Hawks are averaging 52.7 points per game on 37.3 percent shooting from the floor and 28.4 percent from deep, while dishing out 10.8 assists per game. On the defensive side of the ball, UMass Lowell is surrendering 62.4 points per game on 42.7 percent shooting from the floor and 29.4 percent from deep. The River Hawks are also forcing 14.5 turnovers per game alongside 8.5 steals and 3.7 blocks per game. Mili Carrera leads UMass Lowell in scoring at 10.3 points per game to go along with 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Sydney Watkins leads the River Hawks in rebounding at 6.2 per game to go along with a team leading 3.3 assists per contest. Watkins is also second in scoring at 7.2, while Rayne Durant is third in scoring at 6.3 points per game alongside 5.7 boards per game which is second on the team.
INSIDE SERIES
This will be the 21st matchup all-time between the Catamounts and the River Hawks, with Vermont bolstering an 11-9 advantage in the series. The first time these two teams met was in 2013 when the River Hawks joined the America East. Vermont earned a 95-82 victory in that first meeting. The Catamounts are 7-5 against the River Hawks under Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach
Alisa Kresge and have earned five consecutive victories. Last season, Vermont went 2-0 against UMass Lowell outscoring them by an average of 50.0-38.0 points per game. In their two matchups, Utterback led the team with 11.0 points per game alongside 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on 37.5 percent shooting per game. Olson had a strong season against UMass Lowell last year, recording 9.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on 44.4 percent shooting per game.
UP NEXT
Following Thursday's matchup, the Catamounts will conclude their three game America East homestand against Bryant on Saturday, January 27. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The game will also be available via the international stream on AmericaEast.TV. Fans can listen to the game for free on the
Varsity Network App, from Learfield on WVMT, which will air on 96.3 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 620 AM around the rest of the region, with Ryan Zimmerman on the call.
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball