WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts (18-9, 10-3 AE) will host UAlbany (22-3, 11-1 AE) in their final home game of the regular season on Thursday (Feb. 22). Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday's matchup with the Great Danes 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 | Matic
Watch Live: ESPN+ | AmericaEast.TV (Int'l)
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
Tickets
GREEN OUT
February 22nd's matchup with the Great Danes will be the Catamounts "Green Out Game." Pack Patrick in your UVM green! We are encouraging fans to fill up the stands for our "green out" in Patrick Gym against UAlbany on Thursday evening.
AMONG THE BEST IN AMERICA EAST
UVM sits alone in third place in America East standings having an 18-9 overall record and a 10-3 record in America East play. The Catamounts are second in the conference in scoring defense surrendering just 52.9 points per game, which is ranked fourth in the country. UVM is third in the conference in scoring margin at +7.1 per game. The Catamounts are first in field goal percentage (44.1) and second in opponent field goal percentage (37.9). 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 sixth in the conference averaging 14.8 points per game. Olson is ninth in the league in scoring at 11.8 points per game while leading the conference in shooting percentage at 58.5 percent per game. Olson is also ninth in rebounds per game at 6.1 per game and fifth in total rebounds, having 166 on the season.
Bella Vito ranks 13th in the conference in total rebounds, earning a total of 136 so far this season. Vito is also sixth in total steals (40) and steals per game (1.5). Utterback is seventh in the conference in shooting percentage at 44.6 percent per contest and is third in the conference in assists at 4.1 per game and is third in the conference with a total of 112 assists on the season. The Catamounts are third in the conference in blocked shots per game (3.8) and second in total blocks this season (102). The Catamounts are the only team in the conference with three players in the top ten in total blocked shots, with Richason having 24 (sixth), Olson 23 (seventh) and Priede 21 (eighth). Olson and Richason are tied for sixth in blocks per game, averaging 0.9 per game. The Catamounts are first in the America East in turnovers per game, allowing just 12.3 a game.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Catamounts rank in the top 100 in several key categories this season. Vermont is allowing just 52.9 points per game which ranks fourth in the country while their three-point percentage allowed (28.3) is 53rd in the nation. On the defensive side, Vermont is ranked 13th nationally in turnovers per game at just 12.3 while their assist to turnover ratio (1.11) is 48th in the country and are ranked 62nd in the nation in field goal percentage at 44.1 percent per game. Vermont is also 11th in the nation in fouls per game with just 13.0 and are 84th in blocks per game at 3.8.
Emma Utterback ranks 43rd nationwide with 169 field goals while being 40th nationwide in field goal attempts. Utterback ranks 74th in the nation in total assists with 104 on the season.
NET RANKINGS
Maine currently leads America East with a NET ranking of 109, followed by Vermont (135) in second and UAlbany (137) in third, who are all in the top 200. Binghamton (244), Bryant (273) and New Hampshire (293) are also all ranked in the top 300.
SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
Entering Thursday's matchup UAlbany is 22-3 overall and 11-1 in America East play, with their only conference loss coming from the Catamounts on Feb. 1st. The Great Danes are averaging 64.4 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting from the field and 39.2 percent from long range. UAlbany is second in America East in field goal percentage (43.9) and first in 3-point percentage (39.2). On the defensive side of the ball, UAlbany is allowing 51.0 points per game, which is first in the nation, on 36.7 percent shooting from the floor and 26.3 percent from three. The Great Danes are averaging 3.9 blocks and 7.5 steals per contest. UAlbany is led by senior Kayla Cooper, who leads the Great Danes in scoring (16.1 per game) and rebounding (7.8 per game). Cooper also ranks second on the team in assists, having 51 total on the season, and first on the team in steals, having 37 total on the season. Graduate student Helene Haegerstrand is second on the team in scoring at 9.4 per contest and is second in blocks with 24 on the season. Classmate Sarah Karpell leads the Great Danes with 85 total assists and 3.4 per contest.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 52nd matchup all time between the Catamounts and the Great Danes, with UAlbany holding a 27-24 advantage. The first time these two teams met was in 2002 in Albany, Ney York where Vermont earned a 69-65 victory. The last time these two teams met was this season in Albany, NY where Vermont earned a 64-59 victory. In that game, Olson led all players in scoring, earning herself 14 points to go along with six rebounds, one assist, and one block. Three Catamounts registered double digit scoring numbers in that matchup, led by Olson, followed by Hanson with 13 and Richason who had 11. Vermont currently holds onto a three-game win streak against UAlbany, with their longest streak being nine games in a row, dating back to the first nine matchups played between the two teams.
WHO'S NEXT
Following Thursday's matchup Vermont hits the road to face Bryant on Saturday, February 24. Saturday's meeting with Bryant is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game 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
