FINAL SCORE: North Dakota State 58, Vermont 50
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – North Dakota State (3-1) overcame a first half deficit and outscored Vermont (3-3) by 17 in the second half en route to a victory. 
 
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Box Score
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bison opened the game on a 5-2 with Keira Hanson's two free throws the Catamount's only points.
• Catherine Gilwee scored with five minutes to go to cut the deficit to one heading into the first media timeout.
• After the first media timeout, Vermont went on an 8-3 run with buckets from Anna Olson, Sarah Ericson, and Bella Vito.
• North Dakota State closed on a 5-0 to take a 13-12 lead after the first quarter.
• The Catamounts opened the second quarter on a 9-2 run with five points from Malia Lenz and buckets from Olson and Vito to take a 21-15 lead into the media timeout.
• Nearly two minutes went without a score before Vito scored to make it an eight-point Vermont lead.
• The two teams then traded buckets, with the Catamounts outscoring the Bison 8-7 the rest of the way to take a 31-22 halftime lead. Sarah Lazar, Lenz, Vito, and Olson scored in this stretch.
• North Dakota State opened the second half on a 12-4, trailing by one heading into the third media timeout. Nikola Priede and Olson were the only Vermont players to score in the stretch.
• The Bison then closed the third quarter on another 12-6 run, giving them a 46-41 advantage after three quarters.
• The Catamounts cut into the deficit by bringing it to 49-45 with just under four minutes to go with two free throws from Hanson and a bucket by Vito.
• Hanson scored the last field goal for Vermont with 3:28 to make it 51-47 before the teams traded free throws the rest of the way.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Olson led the Catamounts in scoring with 11 points. 
• Lenz led Vermont in rebounds with a career-high nine, including three offensive boards. Vito was second on the team with seven.
• Gilwee and Hanson led the Catamounts in assists with three each.
• Defensively, Lenz and Vito each had four steals to pace Vermont.
• Lazar had a career-high two blocks.

 
UP NEXT
Vermont return to action tomorrow night in the third-place game. They will face Alaska Anchorage, and the game will tip off at 10:15 p.m. ET and be streamed live on YouTube; tickets can be found here.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont women's basketball program, follow @UVMwbb on X and Facebook, @Catamountsbb on Instagram, and visit UVMathletics.com.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont women's basketball.