WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (22-11, 12-4 AE) will host Niagara (21-13, 15-5 MAAC) in the Second Round of the WNIT at Patrick Gym on Monday (Mar. 25) night. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. 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 Ryan Zimmerman on the call.
RELATED LINKS
WNIT Championship Central
WNIT Bracket
Game Notes: Vermont | Niagara
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WNIT HISTORY
This will be the Catamounts third ever appearance in the WNIT, having earned trips in 2002 and 2008. Vermont currently holds a 3-2 record in the WNIT and have been outscored just 64.0-62.2 in their five WNIT games. In their five WNIT matchups, Vermont is shooting 44.1 percent from the floor while holding their opponents to 41.3 percent per contest. Courtnay Pilypaitis leads the Catamounts all-time in WNIT scoring averaging 18.5 points per game while also recording 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per contest on 57.1 percent per game. Morgan Hall is second in program history averaging 15.3 points per game to go along with a program high 9.7 rebounds per game on 44.4 percent shooting. Monday's game against Niagara will be Vermont's fourth time hosting a WNIT game at Patrick Gym. Vermont's deepest run in the WNIT Playoffs came in their first appearance in 2002 where they made it all the way to the quarterfinals before falling to Boston College.
MAKING HISTORY
Vermont earned their third straight 20 win season, for the first time under Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach
Alisa Kresge, third time in program history and first since 2008-2010. Utterback has made her mark on Catamount country ranking first in games played (132), fourth in field goals made (704), ninth in free throws made (274), third in total assists (507), fifth in total assists average (3.8 per game) and seventh in points all time (1,737). Richason has also moved into the top in a variety of categories including first in games played (132), second in total blocks (122) and seventh in career three point percentage at 33.7 percent.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Catamounts have been stout on defense this season ranking second nationally in points per game allowed (52.2), 23rd in three point percentage defense (27.4%), 71st in field goal percent defense (38.3%), 11th in fouls per game (13.1) and are tied for 73rd with 3.9 blocks per game. On the offensive side, Vermont ranks 61st in assist to turnover ratio (1.07), 60th in field goal percentage (43.9%) and are tied for 12th in turnovers per game (12.2). Utterback is tied for 89th nationally with 131 total assists and is tied for 73rd in total field goals (197).
NET RANKINGS
Maine currently leads the America East with a NET Ranking of 112, while Vermont (141) and UAlbany (160) round out the top three. Binghamton (230), Bryant (279) and New Hampshire (298) are all also in the top 300 of the NET Rankings.
ALL-CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
Vermont earned six All-Conference honors and one America East major award.
Emma Utterback was named to the America East First Team for the third consecutive season. She becomes just the fourth Catamount in program history to earn three America East First Team honors.
Anna Olson garnered America East Second Team for the second time in her career, All-Academic Team for the third consecutive season and All-Defensive Team for the first time in her career. Olson becomes just the fifth player in program history to be named to the America East All-Defensive Team.
Keira Hanson was named to the America East Third Team while also earning America East Sixth Player of the Year, becoming the first Catamount in program history to earn that honor.
Delaney Richason was also named to the America East All-Academic Team for the first time in her career.
SCOUTING NIAGARA
Niagara earned their first 20 win season under Head Coach Jada Pierce and are averaging 71.1 points per game on 38.2 percent shooting from the field and 28.7 from beyond the arc. They are allowing 70.2 points per game on 45.3 percent shooting from the field and 31.5 from deep. The Purple Eagles are averaging 36.1 rebounds per game along with a NCAA leading 15.2 steals per contest. Niagara is led by Junior guard Aaliyah Parker who is averaging 12.2 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game. Her sister, Angel Parker is second the Purple Eagles with 10.6 points alongside 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Parker recorded a season-high 24 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists against Iona on March. 3. Sophomore Chardonnay Hartley leads the team with a total of 108 assists and is averaging 8.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the fifth matchup all-time between the Catamounts and the Purple Eagles with each team having won two games apiece. The last time these two teams played was in Patrick Gym on December 31, 2005, with Vermont claiming the 80-56 win. The first time Vermont and Niagara faced off was in the Southern Connecticut Tournament in Dec. 1983 where UVM earned a 78-58 victory.
WHAT'S NEXT
Following the Catamounts' WNIT second round matchup, if they win, Vermont will face off with the winner of (team) and Providence. The time, date and location of that game is yet to be determined. If UVM loses it will bring an end to their third straight 20 plus win season.
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball
