FINAL SCORE: Vermont 65, Colgate 55
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont (24-11, 12-4 AE) came out victorious, 65-55, against Colgate (20-14, 10-8 Patriot) in the 2024 WNIT Super 16 on Friday evening from Patrick Gym. With the win, the Catamounts reach the WNIT Great 8 for the second time in program history, in just their third appearance ever in the WNIT tournament. The last Vermont Women's Basketball team to reach at least the WNIT quarterfinal was over 20 years ago during the 2002 season.
 
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Postgame - Coach Kresge
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"I'm just really proud of this group and excited for them. This is really hard to do at any level, to still be playing in any tournament at this point," said Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. "It's one of those things when you think your season's over and then you get a call that you can play, it's like how are they going to respond? I really thought our players are making the most of these opportunities. You only get so many college games and I think they're living it up and they're enjoying it and you know, the time that we have together for some of them is really short at this point. So, we're really proud of them with continuing to be passionate and putting Vermont on the map and making everybody more excited about seeing that.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Prior to the first media timeout in the first quarter, Colgate got off to a hot start, orchestrating a 10-2 run, giving them an early advantage with 5:24 remaining in the opening frame.
• Delaney Richason drilled a three-pointer for the Catamounts following the media timeout, bringing the score to 10-5 in favor of Colgate with 4:18 to go in the first quarter.
• Vermont forced a Colgate shot clock violation on the next possession, allowing for the Catamounts to set up Anna Olson under the rim on the offensive side, where she scored her first basket of the game to bring Vermont within three, 10-7, with 3:27 to go.
• For the remainder of the quarter, both teams battled back-and-forth, trading off baskets that resulted in a 6-4 scoring run in favor of Colgate as they entered the second frame ahead, 16-11. Andjela Matic and Olson each got a bucket for the Catamounts during the run.
• Emma Utterback kicked off scoring in the second frame after driving hard to the rim and scoring her layup attempt with 9:44 left to go in the quarter. The Catamounts trailed, 16-13.
• Vermont gained the lead at the 5:48 mark in the second quarter, a lead they would never give up, after dialing up a 6-0 scoring run, seeing buckets from Bella Vito, Nikola Priede, and Utterback. Vito's mid-range jump shot from the corner was the original basket that earned Vermont its first lead of the game.
• At the 4:04 mark in the second quarter, Matic's made jump-shot extended UVM's run to 8-0, giving them a 23-20 advantage.
• A steal from Vito with 2:43 remaining allowed for Utterback to get free in transition, resulting in a relatively easy layup from Utterback to give Vermont a 27-20 edge, forcing Colgate to call a timeout and recoup. No points were scored for the rest of the half as the Catamounts entered halftime with a 27-20 lead.
• Olson began scoring in the third quarter after Hanson fed her in the post where she made a nice move, resulting in her finishing a left-handed layup to give Vermont the 29-20 lead.
• Following a quick basket in response from Colgate, Keira Hanson exploded offensively, scoring seven of the next nine points for Vermont including a three-pointer near the UVM bench, earning the Catamounts a 38-29 advantage with 4:14 to go in the third frame.
• Matic concluded scoring in the third frame after banking in her mid-range jump shot as each team entered the final quarter on an even 8-8 scoring run. Vermont led 46-37 entering the fourth quarter. Olson and Richason each added buckets for Vermont amid their even scoring run.
• Colgate opened scoring in the fourth with a made three-pointer before Matic responded for the Catamounts, drilling a three-pointer of her own to maintain the Vermont lead, 49-40, with 8:28 of gametime remaining.
• The Catamounts extended their lead to double-digits, 53-42, after Matic fed Utterback for a smooth mid-range jump shot with 7:03 left to play.
• On the next offensive possession, Matic once again dished out an assist, this time to Vito, who executed her layup attempt to bring Vermont ahead 55-44 with 6:07 remaining in the game.
• Both teams battled for the remainder of gametime, trading off baskets on each end of the floor before Matic and Vito sealed the deal, scoring two free-throws each to earn Vermont the 65-55 victory over Colgate in the WNIT Super 16.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Four different Catamounts registered double-digits, led by Olson with 14, Matic with 13, Utterback earned 12 and Hanson finished with 11.
• Olson led all players in rebounds, corralling eight throughout the match to go along with one assist.
• Vito finished with seven points, two assists, and two steals while leading all players in +/- rating, finishing with +13.
• Matic had a team-high four assists to go along with a new career-high in steals, earning four total.
• Utterback tied a career high in blocks, earning two blocks while Richason recorded two blocks for herself as well. Each player's two blocks were game highs against Colgate.
• Vermont held Colgate to just four points in the second quarter.
• UVM earned more points in the paint, scoring 30 to Colgate's 24. UVM also won the bench points, earning 15 to Colgate's nine.
• Vermont shot better from the floor, shooting 50.9% (27-of-53) while Colgate shot 40.7% (22-of-54).
• With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $94,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.

 
UP NEXT
Following their Super 16 victory in the 2024 WNIT tournament, the Catamounts get ready to hit the road, preparing to matchup against Purdue from West Lafayette, IN in the WNIT Great Eight on April 1 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on BIG+. Ryan Zimmerman, the voice of Catamounts women's basketball will have the radio call on WVMT.