WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (13-7, 5-1 AE) will look to extend their current winning streak as they finish their three game conference homestand on Saturday (Jan. 27) when they host Bryant (10-9, 3-3 AE) at Patrick Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION 
Saturday's matchup with the Bulldogs 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
Game Notes: Vermont | Bryant
Watch Live on ESPN+
International Stream
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
Purchase Tickets
 
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 ninth in the country. UVM is third in the conference in scoring margin at +4.4 per game. The Catamounts are third in field goal percentage (43.0) and second in opponent field goal percentage (38.5). Vermont is just one of three teams with two scorers in the top 10 in scoring in America East (joining Maine and Bryant). Utterback ranks fifth in the conference averaging 15.5 points per game. Olson is eighth in the league in scoring at 11.9 points per game while leading the conference in shooting percentage at 59.4 percent per game. Olson is also 10th in rebounds per game at 6.2 per game. Utterback is eighth in the conference in shooting percentage at 45.2 percent per contest and is tied for the America East lead in assists per game at 4.7 per game and leads the conference with a total of 93 assists on the season. Richason is sixth in the league in blocks per game at 1.0 and is fifth in total blocks at 19, while Olson is sixth in total blocks at 18 and seventh in blocks per contest at 0.9 and Nikola Priede is eighth in the conference with a total of 17 blocks and 0.9 blocks per game. The Catamounts are the only team in the conference with at least two players in blocked shots.
 
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 ninth in the country while their three point percentage allowed (28.1) is 60th in the nation. On the offensive end, Vermont is ranked 18th nationally in turnovers per game at just 12.8, while their assist to turnover ratio (1.05) is 65th in the country and are ranked 87th in the nation in field goal percentage at 43.0 percent per game. Vermont is also seventh in fouls per game with just 13.0 and are 85th in blocks per game at 3.8. Utterback is tied for 65th with 4.6 assists per game and is tied for 49th in total assists with 93 on the season. Olson's 59.4 percent shooting percentage per game is ranked 21st in the nation.
 
NET RANKINGS 
Maine currently leads America East with a NET Rating of 111, followed by UAlbany (115) in second and Vermont (161) in third who are all in the top 200. Bryant (273), Binghamton (281) and New Hampshire (286) are also in the top 300.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Entering Saturday's matchup Bryant is 10-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play having defeated NJIT, Binghamton and New Hampshire while falling to UAlbany (twice) and UMBC. The Bulldogs are averaging 64.3 points per game on 43.1 percent shooting from the floor and 32.9 percent from three. Bryant is second in America East in field goal percentage and third in three point percentage and three pointers per game (6.7). On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs are surrendering 60.8 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting from the floor and 30.6 percent shooting from deep. The Bulldogs are also registering 7.2 steals and 2.7 blocks per contest. The Bulldogs are led by first year Mia Mancini who has earned multiple America East Rookie of the Week honors on her way to averaging 14.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Senior Kamari Reynolds leads Bryant with 3.2 assists per game while classmate Mariona Planes Fortuny leads the team with 6.8 boards per game and is leading the team in scoring at 16.6 points per contest. Her scoring is second in America East while her rebounding is ranked fifth.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 11th matchup all time between the Catamounts and Bulldogs, with Vermont holding a 6-4 advantage. The first time these two teams met was in 1985 in Burlington, Vermont where Vermont earned a 72-61 victory. The last time these two teams met was last season in the Jersey Mikes America East Championship at Patrick Gym where Vermont earned a 56-49 victory. In that game, Olson finished with six points and a game-high 12 boards for Vermont, while Utterback finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Catherine Gilwee scored a team-high 12 points for the Catamounts to go along with a game-high four assists in that last victory. The Catamounts hold the longest winning streak in the series having won five consecutive games against Bryant dating back to 2019.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Following Saturday's matchup Vermont will head on the road to New York where they will face UAlbany on Thursday, February 1 and Binghamton on Saturday, February 3. Thursday's matchup with the Great Danes is scheduled for 7 p.m. and next Saturday's meeting with Binghamton is scheduled for 2 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with the international stream available via AmericaEast.TV. Fans can also 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 the voice of Catamounts women's basketball, Ryan Zimmerman, on the call.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball