FINAL SCORE: Vermont 52, Bryant 45

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Vermont (22-6, 11-2 AE) defeated Bryant (17-9, 7-6 AE) on Saturday evening at Chace Athletic Center. Three Catamounts scored in double figures, and with the victory, Vermont clinched a top-four seed in the America East playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

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Box Score

COACH'S QUOTE
"Road games are extremely hard to come by, and we found a way to grind one out today," said Mayer Women's Basketball Head Coach Alisa Kresge. "I thought our defense improved as the game evolved. We got timely stops when it mattered most and executed when we had to." 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• At the first media timeout, Vermont was on a 10-6 run from the start of the game to the 5:05 mark of the first quarter. Keira Hanson started the run by hitting two three-pointers, followed by layups from Nikola Priede and Jadyn Weltz.

• The Catamounts followed the timeout with an 8-7 run, with Hanson, Emma Haan, and Weltz all contributing. Bryant clawed back into the game with a 10-6 run, six points coming from Mia Mancini.

• Vermont and Bryant went into halftime tied at 26, with Izzy Adams hitting a three-pointer at the 1:17 mark of the second quarter for Bryant. Priede converted a free throw to tie the game.

• At the first timeout of the third quarter, Bryant was on a 9-8 run, sparked by back-to-back baskets from Mancini, a layup from Maranda Nyborg, and a three-pointer from Adams. 

• Following the timeout, Vermont went on a 5-2 run, with Priede scoring three points and Weltz adding a driving layup, giving the Catamounts a 39-37 lead heading into the fourth.

• Vermont opened the fourth quarter with consecutive baskets from Priede to extend the lead to 43-37 with 8:47 remaining. From there, the Catamounts outscored Bryant 9-8, with Haan contributing with a putback at the 1:05 mark to push the lead to 49-43.

• Haan sealed the win at the free-throw line, making back-to-back shots with two seconds remaining to secure a 52-45 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Hanson led Vermont with 15 points, shooting an efficient 3-of-5 (60%) from three-point range, while also grabbing three rebounds and dishing out two assists.

• Priede recorded her ninth double-double of the season, scoring 12 points on 5-of-12 (41.7%) shooting, pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds, adding two assists and three blocks.

• Weltz contributed 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Haan added eight points, three rebounds, and an assist. 

• Vermont outshot Bryant from both the field and three-point range. The Catamounts made 18 of 49 shots (36.7%) from the floor, compared with 18 of 60 (30%) for Bryant. Vermont also shot better from beyond the arc, connecting on 3 of 14 (21.4%) three-pointers, while the Bulldogs went 4 of 22 (18.2%).

• With today's Win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to the Ronald McDonald House through the Cat's Win, Community Win's initiative. Vermont Mutual has donated over $6 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund in 2014.

UP NEXT

UVM hosts UMBC on Thursday, Feb. 19, at Patrick Gym for the Rally Against Cancer game presented by Mascoma Bank. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ESPN+. The radio broadcast will be available via the Varsity Network App with Ryan Zimmerman on the call.

Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball