BURLINGTON, VT – Vermont (22-6, 14-2 AE) matched their longest winning streak since 2002 with a 64-41 victory over Bryant (9-20, 3-13 AE) at Patrick Gym on Saturday evening. With the victory Vermont clinched a share of the America East regular season title for the first time since the 2002 season and locked up the number one seed for the Jersey Mikes' America East Playoffs.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
CatamounTV Highlights
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"I am extremely proud of the fight and toughness in our team to bring home a share of the regular season title back to Patrick," said Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. "Thank you so much to our amazing fan base for the constant support all season long!"
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams struggled to find their offense in the first quarter with Vermont outscoring Bryant just 10-7 over the first 10 minutes of action. Emma Utterback and Anna Olson led the way for the Catamounts with four points each while Catherine Gilwee added two points of her own.
• As a team in the first quarter Vermont was only 5-14 but held the Bulldogs to just 3-12 shooting.
• Vermont expanded their lead going on an 11-6 run over the first 7:11 of the second quarter to expand their lead to 21-13 with 2:49 remaining. Bella Vito led the Catamounts with four points during the run and Vermont went 4-5 from the field while holding Bryant to just 3-7 from the field.
• Bryant did not go away drawing even over the final 2:34 of the half to cut their deficit to just 26-18 heading into halftime.
• To start the second half Bryant battled back to make a 31-26 game with 5:04 remaining following a layup from Nicole Gallagher.
• The Catamounts closed out the remainder of the third quarter with an 11-6 run to seize a 42-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Paula Gonzalez led the Catamounts with four point and Vermont went 3-4 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line to capture a double digit lead heading into the final quarter.
• The Catamounts started the fourth quarter with a quick 4-0 spurt in the first minute plus to take their largest lead of the game yet, 46-32, with 8:46 remaining in the game to force an early timeout.
• The Bulldogs battled back over the next 4:05 to cut the deficit to 50-41 following a Gallagher layup with 5:03 remaining.
• Vermont had an answer to Bryant's run scoring the next eight points over a 2:30 span to put Vermont up 58-41 with 2:33 remaining, a lead they would never relinquish. Olson had two points while Maria Myklebust added four points for the Catamounts during the run.
• The Catamounts closed out the final two plus minutes with a 6-0 run including a free-throw line jumper from senior Marissa McDonald with 27 seconds remaining to clinch a 64-41 victory.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• With the victory, the Catamounts clinched a share of the America East regular season title and locked up the one seed in the America East Tournament.
• It is the first time an America East team has been the top-seed in both the men's and women's basketball tournament since 2002. In 2002 the women were the outright regular season champion, and the men shared the title with Boston University.
• Vermont shot 49.0% (25-51) from the field while holding Bryant to just 31.4% (16-51).
• Utterback led Vermont with 14 points on 5-12 shooting to go with four rebounds and five assists.
• Catherine Gilwee finished with 10 points on 2-6 shooting from three point range to go with a game-high seven assists. Gilwee also blocked two shots for the Catamounts in 37 minutes of action.
• Vermont's bench outscored the Bulldogs 32-0 for their largest bench margin of the season.
• The Catamounts won the turnover battle with just 11 while forcing 13 and dominated on the glass finishing with 37 rebounds to Bryant's 26.
• Vermont's seniors accounted for 34.4% (22 of 64 points) of the Catamounts offense today.

 
WHO'S NEXT
Following this afternoon's matchup with the Bulldogs the Catamounts will host them again in an America East Quarterfinal game at Patrick Gym on Wednesday, March 1. The start time for the game is scheduled for 5 p.m. and it will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Ryan Zimmerman will be on the radio call on WVMT (FM 96.3/AM 620).
 
QUARTERFINAL TICKET INFORMATION
Season ticket holders, to claim tickets for the America East Quarterfinal, please use your online ticket account, call the ticket office over the phone, or visit the box office in Patrick Gymnasium.  A public on sale for the women's quarterfinal game will begin Monday at 1 p.m.