WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont returns home to host Oakland in its final non-conference matchup and game of 2015 on Wednesday (Dec. 30). Tip-off in Patrick Gym is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Radio coverage in Burlington begins 20 minutes prior to tip-off on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com Jamie Scavotto calling the action. The game can also be viewed for free via AmericaEast.tv.
 
Game Coverage
Video | Audio | Stats | Game Notes (.pdf)
 
ABOUT VERMONT
With wins against Sacred Heart, Dartmouth, NJIT, and BU, Vermont is 4-1 in its last five games and improved to 5-7 on Monday for its best 12-game start since 2011.
 
The Catamounts rank third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at a clip of 29.6-percent and their defense holds opponents to just 35.9-percent from the field, the lowest percentage in America East.
 
Vermont's defense also blocks more shots than any other team in the conference (64) and ranks among the top-45 in the NCAA. Behind three players who rank among the top-five in America East, UVM averages 5.3 blocks per game. The Catamounts are a force under the basket, grabbing the most offensive rebounds in the conference (168) and second-most defensive rebounds (338).

Graduate transfer Andreana Thomas earned the Catamounts' first conference honor this week, as she was tabbed America East Player of the Week after back-to-back games matching her career-high with 26 points against Delaware and Boston University.

LAST TIME OUT
Andreana Thomas scored a game-high 26 points for a second consecutive game in UVM's 60-45 victory over Boston University on Monday afternoon at Case Gym.
 
Layups by Kara Sheftic and Courtney Latham late in the second quarter kept the Terriers within 10 of Vermont, but UVM closed out the first half ahead 28-18. The Catamounts held BU to 5-for-26 (19-percent) from the field and pulled down 24 first-half rebounds.
 
Vermont was scoreless for the first half of the fourth quarter, allowing an 8-0 Terrier run to bring BU within single digits of UVM (47-38) for the first time since the second period. Thomas drained a key jumper from beyond the left elbow to restore the double-figure lead and UVM never looked back. Successful foul line trips from Thomas and Courtney Wright sealed the 15-point win for the Catamounts.
 
ONE MORE TIME FOR THOMAS
Graduate student Andreana Thomas has been a tremendous spark for the Catamounts this season. The Hofstra transfer has started nine games and recorded double-figure scoring in eight of her 11 appearances, a team-leading 14.3 ppg. Thomas is dishing out 4.1 assists per game to lead the team and posted a career-high 26 points against Delaware and BU. In Thomas' 49 trips to the foul line, she has connected on 40 for the second-best free throw percentage (.816) on the team.
 
TWO OF A KIND
Candice and Courtney Wright have made a significant impact for the Catamounts as true freshmen this season. The Cambridge, Ontario natives are shooting over 41-percent from the field to combine for 135 points, and account for almost 20-percent of Vermont's 707 total points. The Wrights have been dynamic under the basket as Courtney has grabbed 51 rebounds and Candice has pulled down 52.
 
CATS IN THE CONFERENCE
Four Catamounts are positioned among the top-5 in five categories in the America East standings. Smith has been a force on both ends of the floor this season as she ranks second the conference in 3-pointers made (27) and has blocked the second-most shots (18).
 
Sydney Smith, Candice Wright and Gracia Hutson rank second, third and fourth in the conference in blocks, each averaging at least one block per game. Thomas dishes out the fifth-most assists per game (4.1 apg) and has the fifth-best free throw percentage in America East by averaging 81.6-percent from the line (40-for-49).

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
With an 81-74 win over IPFW last Tuesday, Oakland improved to a record of 7-4 before it makes its way to Patrick Gym. Freshman Taylor Jones scored a career-high 25 points while Olivia Nash posted her third double-double of the season with a season-high 21 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Jones and Nash each earned Horizon League Weekly Honors, with Jones being tabbed Rookie of the Week and Nash claiming Player of the Week accolades. The duo paces the Golden Grizzly offense, each shooting over 52-percent, and are averaging 16.2 and 13.1 ppg, respectively.
 
Oakland leads the Horizon League and ranks 14th in the nation with 19.6 assists per game and is also tops in the league in assist/turnover ratio (1.2).

SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's meeting will mark the first matchup between Oakland and UVM. Vermont holds an 0-5 mark against schools in the Horizon League.
 
The most recent meeting between the Catamounts and a member of the Horizon League was last season against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay when UVM fell 60-40 on the road.
 
WHO'S NEXT
Vermont faces its first America East opponent on Saturday (Jan. 2) at UMBC. Tip-off at the RAC in Baltimore is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Radio coverage begins 20 minutes prior to tip-off on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com. The game and all conference matchups can also be viewed for free via AmericaEast.tv.