ESTERO, FL – Despite battling back in the second half the Catamounts (3-3) fell at Hertz Arena 62-50 against Western Kentucky (6-2) in their second game of the Florida Gulf Coast Showcase on Saturday Morning (Nov. 25).
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Vermont started out slow going 0-4 with two turnovers over the first three minutes of the game allowing Western Kentucky to jump out to an early 8-0 lead.
• Over the final six plus minutes of the first quarter the two teams battled with the Lady Toppers outscoring Vermont 7-6 to take a 15-6 lead into the first break.
• Western Kentucky was led by five each from Karris Allen and Acacia Hayes in the first stanza. Emma Utterback, Malia Lenz and Paula Gonzalez all scored two points for Vermont.
• The Lady Toppers used another 8-0 run over the first four minutes of the second quarter to take their largest lead of the game, 23-8.  
• Utterback responded for the Catamounts with a 6-0 spurt of her own over the next minute to cut the score to 23-14. Overall, in the last six minutes of the quarter Vermont outscored Western Kentucky 10-3 and cut the deficit to 26-18 heading into the half.
• The Catamounts would not go down easily and were able to tie the score at 33 apiece following a Bella Vito three with 4:07 remaining. Vito led the Catamounts with five points during that span, while Utterback had four points and two assists.
• Teresa Faustino (11 points) responded on the next possession with a three to spark a 9-2 Lady Toppers run to close out the remainder of the third quarter and take a 42-35 lead into the final stanza.
• Vermont had a resilient start to the fourth quarter going on an 8-3 spurt to close the gap to 45-43 with 7:26 remaining. However, Western Kentucky had an answer for every Vermont run and that was the closest the Catamounts would get. Western Kentucky closed the game on a 17-7 run, knocking down their free throws in the final minutes and secured the 62-50 victory.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Utterback led the Catamounts with 14 points alongside a game-high four assists and three rebounds. She finished 7-for-12 from the floor (58.3%).
• Richason was also in double figures with 11 points.
• Olson had an all-around stat line finishing with seven points, eight rebounds, a steal and a game-high two blocks.
• Vito finished with nine rebounds which was tied for a game high. She also scored seven points, dished out two assists and registered two steals.
• Gonzalez finished with seven points, two assists and a rebound for Vermont.

 
UP NEXT
The Catamounts will play in the seventh place game of the Gulf Coast Showcase against Delaware on Sunday (Nov. 26). Tip is scheduled for 11 a.m. Delaware fell in their Gulf Coast Showcase opener against Florida Gulf Coast 83-68 on Friday before falling to Purdue Fort Wayne 88-74 on Saturday.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The matchup between the Catamounts and Delaware will be broadcast live on FloHoops with Max Tanzer on the call. Fans can also listen to the game for free on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield on The Game, which will air on 97.1 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 960 AM around the rest of the region. The radio broadcast is also available via the Varsity Network App with, the voice of Catamounts women's basketball, Ryan Zimmerman on the call.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball