WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (24-11, 12-4 AE) will travel to the Hoosier state to faceoff with the Purdue Boilermakers (15-18, 5-13 Big Ten) on Monday night in the program's second ever WNIT quarterfinal appearance. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. and will be broadcast live on BIG+. Fans can also listen to the game on WVMT with Ryan Zimmerman on the call, which will air on 96.3 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 620 AM around the rest of the region.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Super 16 Postgame
Game Notes: Vermont | Purdue
WNIT Central
WNIT Bracket
Watch Live: BIG+ (Subscription Required)
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
 
WNIT HISTORY
This is the Catamounts' third ever appearance in the WNIT, having earned trips in 2002 and 2008, and their second time in the quarterfinals. Vermont currently holds a 5-2 record in the WNIT and have outscored their opponents 64.3-62.7 in their seven WNIT games. In their seven WNIT matchups, Vermont is shooting 45.4 percent from the floor while holding their opponents to 39.8 percent per contest. Vermont is also connecting on 40.0 percent of their three point attempts while holding their opponents to just 35.2 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 shooting per game. Vermont's Second Round 69-63 win over Niagara was the Catamount's fourth time hosting a WNIT game at Patrick Gym. Friday's 65-55 victory over Colgate was the Catamounts fifth time hosting a WNIT game and helped Vermont move on to the program's second WNIT quarterfinal appearance. In the 2024 WNIT Andjela Matic is leading the way averaging 16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals on 89.0 percent shooting from the floor and 83.0 percent from three.
 
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 (38.1%), 12th in fouls per game (13.1) and are 72nd with 3.9 blocks per game. On the offensive side, Vermont ranks 60th in assist to turnover ratio (1.07), 52nd in field goal percentage (44.2%) and are 13th in turnovers per game (12.2). Emma Utterback is tied for 88th nationally with 136 total assists and is tied for 62nd in total field goals (208). 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).
 
PATRICK GYM EFFECT
Following their Super 16 victory over Colgate, the Catamounts improved to 61-23 at Patrick Gym under Kresge and this season have set a program record with 16 wins at home, going 16-2. Vermont is outscoring opponents 61.9-49.5 at home this season while holding their opponents to just 36.5 percent shooting from the floor and 27.2 percent from three. The Catamounts have connected on 46.9 percent of their shots and 32.7 percent from beyond the arc. Vermont also bolsters a plus 3.2 rebounding margin and forced 13.6 turnovers (6.3 steals) per game on their home court.
 
MONEY MATIC
In her first WNIT appearance, Matic set a career-high with 19 points in a 69-63 victory over Niagara and she followed that up with 13 points, one rebound and four assists in a 65-55 win against Colgate. In her first two career WNIT games, Matic is leading Vermont in scoring and is currently second in program history in scoring average at 16.0 per contest while connecting on 89.0 percent of her shots and 83.3 percent of her three point tries. Matic has also connected on 11-of-13 (84.6%) of her free throws.
 
NET RANKINGS
Maine 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.
 
BALANCED ATTACK
Vermont has five players averaging at least 7.0 points per game and have five players shooting at least 40.0 percent from the floor. Utterback leads Vermont with 14.2 points per game while Anna Olson is second averaging 11.7 points per contest. Olson also leads the Catamounts and America East at 56.9 percent shooting from the floor while Nikola Priede is also shooting over 50 percent at 53.4 percent per game. Matic leads the Catamounts in three point shooting at 48.4 percent while connecting on 46 of her threes. Vermont is just one of 32 teams in the country with three 1,000 point scorers on their active roster.
 
SCOUTING THE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue enters Monday's matchup with a 15-18 (5-13 Big Ten) overall record having defeated Duquesne 71-50 in the WNIT Super 16 and Butler, 62-51, in the Second Round. The Boilermakers are averaging 68.5 points per game on 41.6 percent shooting from the floor and 33.4 percent shooting from three. On the defensive side, Purdue is surrendering 68.3 points per game on 42.1 percent shooting from the floor and 33.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc while registering 7.6 steals and 3.0 blocks per contest. Purdue is led by graduate guard Abbey Ellis who averages 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 41.8 percent shooting. Jeanae Terry leads the Boilermakers in rebounding and passing averaging 8.5 boards and 6.0 assists per contest alongside 5.0 points on 39.0 percent shooting from the floor. Through her first two games at the 2024 WNIT Ellis is leading the way with 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on 45.8 percent shooting.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the Catamounts and Boilermakers second all-time matchup with Purdue winning the sole meeting in the series. The only time these two teams met Purdue earned a 75-45 victory in New Hampshire in the Dartmouth Tournament in Nov. 1985. The Catamounts are seeking the program's second ever win against a Big Ten opponent, having defeated Wisconsin, 64-55, in the 2010 NCAA Tournament First Round.
 
UP NEXT
If the Catamounts win Monday's matchup with the Boilermakers, they will play against the winner of Saint Louis and Wisconsin, in the WNIT Fab Four. 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