WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (23-11, 12-4 AE) will host Colgate (20-13, 10-8 Patriot) in the WNIT Super 16 on Friday (Mar. 29) evening at Patrick Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. Ryan Zimmerman, the voice of the Catamounts women's basketball team, will have the radio call on WVMT.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Preview: Coach Kresge | Olson | Utterback
Game Notes: Vermont | Colgate
WNIT Central
WNIT Bracket
Watch Live: ESPN+ | AmericaEast.TV (Int'l)
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
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NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Catamounts have been stout on defense this season ranking second nationally in points per game allowed (52.5), 20th in three point percentage defense (27.1%), 62nd in field goal percent defense (38.0%), 13th in fouls per game (13.2) and are tied for 72nd with 3.9 blocks per game. On the offensive side, Vermont ranks 68th in assist to turnover ratio (1.06), 57th in field goal percentage (44.0%) and are 17th in turnovers per game (12.4). Utterback is tied for 92nd nationally with 134 total assists and is tied for 75th in total field goals (202). Andjela Matic is just one of three players in the nation to have 40 plus made threes while shooting 47 percent or more, joining Te-Hina Paopao (South Carolina) and Blair Schoenwald (Belmont).
 
WNIT HISTORY
This is the Catamounts' third ever appearance in the WNIT, having earned trips in 2002 and 2008. Vermont currently holds a 4-2 record in the WNIT and have been outscored just 63.8-63.3 in their six WNIT games. In their six WNIT matchups, Vermont is shooting 44.4 percent from the floor while holding their opponents to 39.6 percent per contest. Vermont is also connecting on 41.8 percent of their three point attempts while holding their opponents to just 34.0 percent.  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 was 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. Friday's matchup will be the Catamounts fifth time hosting a WNIT game. In each of their previous five WNIT matchups the Catamounts have had at least two players score in double figures.
 
SETTING CAREER-HIGHS
In the Catamounts victory Niagara, Matic set a career-high with 19 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three point range and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Anna Olson also set a career high in that matchup with seven assists to go along with six points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
POWER AT PATRICK
Under Kresge the Catamounts are 60-23 at Patrick Gym and are 15-2 this season. Vermont is outscoring opponents 61.7-49.2 at home this season while holding their opponents to just 36.2 percent shooting from the floor and 26.5 percent from three. The Catamounts are connecting on 46.7 percent of their shots and 32.9 percent from beyond the arc. Vermont also bolsters a plus 3.6 rebounding margin and are forcing 13.8 turnovers (6.3 steals) game on their home court.
 
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.
 
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Colgate enters Friday's matchup at 20-13 overall and finished 10-8 in the Patriot League this season. The Raiders defeated UAlbany at home 64-50 in the first round of the WNIT before defeating Providence 54-41 in the Second Round of the WNIT. Colgate is averaging 62.0 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting from the field and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc. On the defensive end, the Raiders are surrendering 55.4 points per game on 40.7 percent shooting from the floor and just 24.2 percent from three point range, while also registering 7.0 steals and 1.9 blocks per contest. Their points per game allowed is 13th nationally while their three point percentage is 53rd in the country. The Raiders are led by junior Taylor Golembiewski at 12.4 points per game alongside 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Classmate Sophia Diehl leads Colgate in rebounding with 6.5 per game alongside 7.5 points and 1.8 assists per contest. Senior Tiasia McMillan is second on the team with 10.3 points and rebounds at 4.5 per game.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 18th all-time matchup between the Raiders of Colgate and the Catamounts, with Vermont bolstering a 13-4 record in the series. The first time these two teams met was in Dec. 1982 in Burlington when the two teams faced off as America East foes and UVM won 80-72. The Raiders and Catamounts battled as conference rivals until Colgate joined the Patriot League in 1990. In their previous 17 matchups Vermont has outscored Colgate by an average of 72.2-62.7. The Raiders and Catamounts have squared off at Patrick 10 times, with Vermont holding an 8-2 advantage. In those 10 games Vermont is outscoring Colgate by an average of 72.3-60.4. Against the Patriot League Vermont is 62-66 all-time and are 4-3 under Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge.
 
UP NEXT
If the Catamounts win Friday's matchup with the Raiders, they will play against the winner of Duquesne and Purdue, in the WNIT Great Eight. The date, time and location for that matchup is still to be determined.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball