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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Niki Taylor posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds and
Emilie Cloutier added 13 points but the Vermont Catamounts fell short at Hartford, dropping a 60-49 decision to the Hawks to start the second round of America East women's basketball conference play. Hartford improves to 12-11 overall and 6-3 in America East. Vermont falls to 3-18 and 0-9 in league play.
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Box Score (.pdf) Deanna Mayza led all scorers with 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting for Hartford. Cherelle Moore added 12 points and six rebounds and Amber Bepko chipped in 10 points and grabbed six boards.
"It was a physical game, I thought our players responded well on the boards. Niki and Emilie were doing well inside but we took some ill-advised shots in the second half and got away from the game plan. We've got to be better disciplined and have more patience when our shots aren't falling," said
Lori Gear McBride.
With the score tied at 13, Vermont put together a 12-5 run to push out to a six-point lead, 24-18, with 2:30 remaining in the first half. Hartford answered with an 8-0 run and took a 26-24 lead into the break.
Early in the second half, Taylor tied the game up at 28 with a pair of free throws. Hartford responded with six straight points to push out to a 34-28 lead with 12:46 remaining in the game.
The Catamounts closed to within two three times over the next four minutes, but could not regain the lead. UVM trailed 37-35 with 8:21 remaining, but a 9-2 spurt by the Hawks, pushed them out in front, 46-37, with 5:54 left in the half.
Vermont would slice the lead to three twice in the final three minutes on baskets by Cloutier and Taylor, but Hartford was able to hold off the Catamounts. UVM was limited to three field goals in the final 3:45 of the game and Hartford went 8-for-8 from the foul line to seal the win.
Vermont out rebounded the Hawks 42-35 in the game and had 10 assists in 14 field goals, but the Catamounts shot 26.4 percent from the field. Hartford shot 35.2 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from 3-point range.
Vermont hosts Stony Brook on Wednesday (Feb. 4) at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at
UVMathletics.com, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office (M-F: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) located in Patrick Gymnasium, via the phone at 802-656-4410 or in person one hour before tipoff in the Patrick Gymnasium Lobby.
Kevin Fitzgerald will have the call on WVMT-620 AM (online:
SportsJuice.com) and the game will be streamed online for free in HD via
CatamounTV.com.
ALUMNI GAMEWomen's basketball alumnae are invited to join the team on February 7 when Vermont hosts Binghamton for a reception following the game. If enough alumnae are interested in playing, an alumnae game will be held in the morning. Please contact the
Victory Club Office at Victory.Club@uvm.edu or 802-656-0956 to register or for more information.