WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts (15-8, 7-2 AE) look to bounce back at Patrick Gym in their annual Rally Against Cancer game against NJIT (8-13, 0-8 AE) on Thursday night. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION 
Thursday's matchup with the Highlanders 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 | Vito
Game Notes: Vermont | NJIT
Watch Live: ESPN+ | International Stream
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
Tickets
 
RALLY AGAINST CANCER PRESENTED BY MASCOMA BANK
Thursday is the Rally Against Cancer Game presented by Mascoma Bank. The team will be wearing special edition Rally Against Cancer jerseys that will be auctioned off online starting at tip-off at https://www.32auctions.com/uvmwbbcancer. The auction will end on Thursday, February 15 at 6 p.m. and proceeds will benefit the UVM Cancer Center. Fans are encouraged to wear lavender, the universal cancer awareness color to this game in support of the team's cancer awareness initiatives.
 
AMERICA EAST STANDINGS
The Catamounts have earned seven victories in their last nine America East conference games. Vermont got a crucial win over UAlbany on the road Thursday (Feb. 1) night 64-59 and also have victories over NJIT and UMBC on the road as well as four home wins versus New Hampshire, Binghamton, UMass Lowell, and Bryant to stand 7-2 in the America East. UVM's only losses in conference came against Maine and Binghamton while on the road, with their last lost on the season being against Binghamton (Feb. 3). The Catamounts are in third place while UAlbany is tied for first place in conference play with Maine. Vermont is one of three teams with an overall record above .500 coming in at 15-8. Prior to their most recent loss, Vermont held a six-game winning streak, which took over the longest active streak in the conference after they defeated UAlbany. UAlbany leads the conference at 19-3 and 8-1 in conference play. Maine comes in second at 15-8 and 8-1 in America East play, with their only loss coming to UAlbany. Binghamton comes in behind UVM at 9-13 (4-5 AE) to sit in fourth place. UMBC rounds out the top five at 8-13 (4-5 AE) in the America East.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Catamounts rank in the top 100 in several key categories this season. Vermont is allowing just 53.6 points per game which ranks fifth in the country while their three-point percentage allowed (28.3) is 63rd in the nation. On the defensive side, Vermont is ranked 12th nationally in turnovers per game at just 12.3 while their assist to turnover ratio (1.08) is 54th in the country and are ranked 80th in the nation in field goal percentage at 43.2 percent per game. Vermont is also 11th in the nation in fouls per game with just 13.1 and are 73rd in blocks per game at 3.9. Emma Utterback ranks 52nd nationwide with 143 field goals while being 43rd nationwide in field goal attempts. Utterback ranks 84th in the nation with 4.4 assists per game and ranks 65th in total assists with 101 on the season.
 
AMONG THE BEST IN AMERICA EAST
UVM sits alone for third in America East a bit over halfway through conference play. The Catamounts are second in the conference in scoring defense surrendering just 53.6 points per game, which is ranked fifth in the country. UVM is third in the conference in scoring margin at +4.8 per game. The Catamounts are second in field goal percentage (43.2) 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 (joining Maine and Bryant). Utterback ranks sixth in the conference averaging 14.6 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 56.8 percent per game. Olson is also eighth in rebounds per game at 6.1 per game and sixth in total rebounds, having 140 on the season. Vito ranks 12th in the conference in total rebounds, earning a total of 123 so far this season. Utterback is eighth in the conference in shooting percentage at 43.9 percent per contest and is tied for second in the conference in assists at 4.4 per game and is second in the conference with a total of 102 assists on the season. The Catamounts are second in the conference in blocked shots per game (3.9) and second in total blocks this season (90). The Catamounts are the only team in the conference with three players in the top ten in blocked shots with Olson (eighth), Richason (sixth) and Priede (ninth). Olson and Priede are tied for sixth in total blocks, having 20 each while Richason sits at fifth with 21 total blocks.
 
NET RANKINGS
Maine currently leads America East with a NET ranking of 112, followed by UAlbany (122) in second and Vermont (156) in third, who are all in the top 200. Binghamton (258), New Hampshire (273) and Bryant (282) are also all ranked in the top 300.
 
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
NJIT enters Thursday's matchup at 8-13 overall (0-8 AE) and are searching for their first America East win. On the offensive side of the ball, the Highlanders are averaging 58.4 points per game on 38.7 percent shooting from the floor and 27.7 percent from deep. On the defensive end, NJIT is allowing 63.9 points per game on 39.6 percent shooting from the floor and 29.9 shooting from beyond the arc. The Highlanders are also recording 7.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game. Their blocks per game leads the America East. The Highlanders are led by reigning America East Rookie of the Year Alejandra Zuniga who is averaging 15.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Trinity Williams is second on the team in scoring with 9.4 points per contest, while leading the team in rebounding with 6.7 per game. Williams leads the team and America East in blocks (34) and blocks per game (1.7), while being ranked in the top 50 nationally in both.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 12th matchup all-time between the Catamounts and the Highlanders, with Vermont holding a 10-1 advantage in the series. The first time these two teams met was in 2015 when NJIT was a member of the A-SUN conference. Vermont came away with a 54-46 victory in that game. The Catamounts enter Thursday's matchup having won six consecutive games against the Highlanders. As America East rivals Vermont holds a 6-1 advantage over NJIT. Under Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge, the Catamounts are 8-1 against the Highlanders. In those nine games, Vermont has outscored NJIT by an average of 67.3-52.9 and have held the Highlanders under 50 points four times. Earlier this season, Vermont was victorious against NJIT on Jan. 13 by a score of 68-55. Three Catamounts scored in double figures, led by Utterback with 20 points. Against NJIT last year Delaney Richason, had her way averaging 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.5 blocks per game on 55.6 percent shooting. In the first meeting with the Highlanders Richason recorded a career-high six blocks. Olson also had a very productive season against NJIT last year averaging 14.5 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game on 86.7 percent (13-of-15) shooting.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Vermont will return to action on Saturday (Feb. 10) when they host UMBC in their annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Presented by Vermont Mutual. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET at Patrick Gym. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Patrick Gym Box Office on gameday.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball