ALBANY, N.Y. – UAlbany built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and held on the rest of the way defeating Vermont 54-52 Saturday afternoon in America East action from SEFCU Arena. With the win, the Great Danes snapped UVM's three-game win streak and improved to 10-3 in league play. The Catamounts fell to 8-5 in league play.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score (.pdf)
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"It's hard to win when we turn the ball over 19 times and shoot 58 percent from the free throw line," Mayer Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge said. "Yet we still had multiple chances to tie or take the lead in the second half which is positive. We have things we need to clean up with the quick turnaround."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Anna Olson had six points in the early going as UVM built a 10-7 lead with 3:40 left in the first quarter. Over the next 2:51 the Great Danes went on an 8-0 with four points from Freja Werth. Josie Larkins first triple of the day came with four seconds left in the quarter to pull UVM within two at the break.
• A 12-2 run to start the second quarter put UAlbany up 12 midway through the frame. UA's Helene Haegerstrand added another five points over 1:04 of game action as the Great Danes claimed a game-high 14-point edge.
• Emma Utterback and Maria Myklebust each had three points in a 6-0 UVM spurt to end the half making it a single digit game.
• In the third quarter Larkins hit two more three-pointers and Delaney Richason added another for UVM as they shrunk the UA lead to four entering the final frame.
• Utterback cut the Great Danes lead to two with 5:02 left in regulation on a driving layup. But in the final five minutes UA hit seven free throws and was able to hold on late for the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• For the fourth straight game Anna Olson led UVM in scoring with 15 points. She's been UVM's leading scorer in nine games this season.
• Emma Utterback had another impressive stat line Saturday with 13 points, six assists, five rebounds and a steal.

WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts will host UAlbany at Patrick Gym Monday, February 14 at noon. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Fans can also listen live on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield IMG College on WVMT with Cooper Boardman on the call.

Rise to the Top is the presenting sponsor of Vermont women's basketball