FINAL SCORE: Vermont 70, UMBC 55
BALTIMORE, Maryland – Vermont's second half surge launched them back into the win column as they defeated UMBC 70-55 on the road Thursday morning. The win snaps UMBC's four-game winning streak and elevates Vermont's record to 10-7 (2-1 AE). With the loss, UMBC falls to 6-9 (2-1 AE).
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
Postgame – Coach Kresge
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"I think [Keira] is really finding her rhythm in our system," said Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. "The biggest thing for me, is we always knew she had the offense, but really bringing the defensive intensity is huge. She is turning into a really good two-way player and that's a big thing in our program. Emma is our motor, she does everything, defensively is playing some of the most talented guards and really getting our team under control offensively. I think our players played with more poise [in the second half] and got the ball to the right person and when perimeter shots are falling it opens up the inside."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UMBC came out of the gates on fire, starting the game with a 6-0 scoring run.
• Emma Utterback got the Catamounts going with a made jumper at the 7:05 mark of quarter one. Keira Hanson followed with her first points of the match, converting on another made jump shot. The first timeout of the game was called with 4:47 remaining in the first quarter with the Catamounts trailing 9-6 early.
• The Retrievers came out of the timeout capitalizing on a slow start from Vermont, going on a 5-0 scoring run, to increase their lead to 14-6.
• Anna Olson countered UMBC's push by scoring 2 consecutive jump shots to end the first quarter. Her second jumper came off of a Nikola Priede offensive rebound to help cut the score and send the game into the quarter end with Vermont down 16-10.
• Hanson scored first to begin the second quarter by draining a three pointer, cutting the lead to three, 16-13.
• Despite a good start to the second quarter for Vermont, UMBC found a way to orchestrate a 10-0 scoring run, stalling the Catamounts in its tracks. Vermont found themselves behind 26-13 with 4:39 remaining in the first half.
• With 3:28 remaining in the first half, Utterback scored with the left hand, plus the foul, where she successfully completed the three-point play to give Vermont its first points since Hanson's three pointer to begin the quarter. Utterback stayed hot drilling another three-pointer on UVM's next offensive possession bringing the Catamounts within single digits, 28-19.
• UVM started to click offensively late in the first half, but still found themselves in a hole going into halftime down 32-24. Utterback led Vermont with eight points at the half, followed by Olson and Hanson, who each earned seven points. Anna Blount carried the Retrievers with 12 first half points. Seven different players registered points for UMBC in a productive first half.
• Vermont struck first to begin quarter three, led by Olson who made a layup while getting fouled. Olson missed the free throw, but UVM was able to keep possession after the ball went out of bounds on UMBC following a rebound attempt. Olson registered another layup on the very next possession, bringing the Catamounts within four, 32-28.
• UMBC scored its first points of the quarter at the seven-minute mark, elevating the lead to 34-28.
• Utterback quickly responded with a 2-point jumper of her own, putting her in double figures for scoring at 10 points with 6:35 remaining of quarter three.
• The Retrievers battled hard, scoring back-to-back layups putting them up 38-30 after Utterback's bucket, but Hanson answered with an emphatic three pointer to keep the Catamounts within five points with 4:21 remaining in quarter three, 38-33.
• At the 3:23 mark in the third quarter, Olson completed a three-point play after getting fouled by making her layup and free throw putting the Catamounts in prime position to secure a comeback.
• Vermont capped off the third quarter going on a 5-0 scoring run led by Hanson who cashed her third three-pointer of the game followed by Nikola Priede, earning her first points of the game on a layup. The Catamounts sent the game into the fourth quarter tied 41-41.
• UVM took its first lead of the game, early in the fourth quarter, 43-41, after Priede scored the opening basket with a layup on an Utterback assits.
• Utterback and Olson took turns registering three-point plays with 6:18 remaining of game time, putting the Catamounts ahead 53-45.
• A fadeaway bank shot as the shot clock expired from Utterback put Vermont up 56-48 with 4:37 remaining. With four minutes remaining in the game, Hanson drilled her fourth three-pointer of the game to give UVM a 59-50 lead.
• The Catamounts never looked back after gaining the lead, outscoring UMBC 29-14 in the fourth quarter to earn their second conference win of the season.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Olson, Utterback, and Hanson led the charge for the Catamounts as each player registered 19 total points.
• Hanson scored in double figures for the third consecutive game for the first time in her career.
• UVM dominated both ends of the shooting percentage, earning a 43.1% FG percentage on 25-58 shooting and 43.8% three-point percentage on 7-16 shooting.
• Vermont outscored UMBC in the second half 46-23. Vermont scored a season-high 29 points in the fourth quarter.
• The 29 points scored in the fourth quarter by Vermont is the most points registered in a quarter in Vermont program history.
• Olson was one rebound short of recording a double-double, leading all players in the game with nine rebounds.
• Utterback led all players in assists, recording seven against UMBC to go along with her 19 points.

 
UP NEXT
Following today's matchup, the Catamounts will conclude their road trip at NJIT on Saturday, January 13th. That game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and is scheduled to tip at 1 p.m. The international stream will also be available via AmericaEast.TV. Fans can also listen to the game for free on the Varsity Network App from Learfield on WVMT, which will air on 96.3 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh and 620 AM around the rest of the region with Ryan Zimmerman on the call.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball