FINAL SCORE: Vermont 64, Idaho State 44
Cancun, MX - Vermont (4-4) scored a season-high 36 points in the first half to propel themselves to a 20-point victory over Idaho State (2-5).
 
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Box Score
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts opened on a 5-0 run, with Anna Olson and Keira Hanson each scoring in the opening three minutes.
• Idaho State was held without a field goal until the 6:14 mark of the first quarter when Sophia Covello hit a three to make it 5-3.
• Vermont pushed it to 7-5 on two free throws from Bella Vito before the first media timeout.
• The teams traded baskets for the rest of the first quarter following the media timeout, with each team scoring nine. The Catamounts got three from Malia Lenz, with Catherine Gilwee, Olson, and Vito scoring.
• The Bengals opened the second quarter on a 9-4 in the first three minutes to take a 23-20 lead over Vermont. Hanson and Sarah Ericson recorded points during that stretch.
• Sarah Lazar tied it at 23 at the 6:51 mark of the second quarter.
• Tasia Jordan made it 25-23, 30 seconds later before the Catamounts closed the half on a 13-1 run over the last six minutes.
• Over the run, Nikola Priede and Vito had four each, Gilwee had three, and Hanson had two free throws.
• Vermont opened the third quarter on a 6-0 run, with Lenz, Olson, and Hanson all contributing.
• At the 6:36 mark of the third quarter, Idaho State got their first of two third-quarter field goals to make it 42-28.
• The Catamounts closed the quarter out on a 7-2 run to end the half up, 49-30. Lenz scored three points, while Gilwee and Olson scored three points during the run.
• The Bengals opened the fourth quarter on a 7-2, which they took into the game's final media timeout. Vito had the lone bucket for Vermont during that stretch.
• The Catamounts responded with an 8-2 run out of the media timeout. Emma Haan, Vito, and Lenz contributed to the scoring during the run.
• Following another Idaho State timeout, Vermont finished the game on a 5-2 run with three points from Haan and two from Lazar.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vito led the Catamounts in scoring with a career-high 15 points, while Lenz was second with a career-high 11.
• Vito and Lenz also led Vermont on the boards with a seven and five, respectively.
• Gilwee led the Catamounts with six assists for the second time this season, while Lenz and Olson each had two.
• The Vermont defense held the Bengals to 29.3% shooting from the field, the first time the Catamounts have held a team to under 30% shooting since the 2023 America East Championship game against UAlbany.
• Vermont hit a season-high 13 free throws on 16 trips to the line, including a career-high from five.
• Lexi Kerstein made her collegiate debut and hauled three rebounds and an assist.
• The win marks the Catamounts first win in a November tournament since 2022, when they defeated Siena in the TD Bank Classic. 

 
UP NEXT
The Catamounts return to action tomorrow (Nov. 29) when they take on Rice in their second game at the Cancun Challenge. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET and be streamed live on FloHoops. Tickets are available 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.