WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont 10-7 (2-1 AE) wraps up their three game road trip against conference rival NJIT (9-8, 0-2 AE) on Saturday, January 13. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION 
Saturday's matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The international stream will also be available via AmericaEast.TV. Fans can 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.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch Live on ESPN+
International Stream
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
 
AMONG THE BEST IN THE AMERICA EAST
The Catamounts are second in the conference in scoring defense allowing just 54.5 points per game, which is ranked 23rd in the country. UVM is second in the conference in scoring margin at +3.1 per game. The Catamounts are third in both field goal percentage (42.6) and opponent field goal percentage (39.0). Vermont is just one of three teams with two scorers in the top 10 in scoring in America East. Emma Utterback ranks third in the conference averaging 15.5 points per game. Anna Olson is 10th in the league in scoring at 11.2 points per game while leading the conference in shoot percentage at 56.6 percent per game. Olson is also fourth in the conference in free throw percentage (74.1) and 12th in rebounds per game at 6.1 per game. Utterback is also seventh in the conference in shooting percentage at 45.4 percent per contest and second in assists per game at 4.8 per game.
 
HANSON CONTINUES THE HOT HAND
Keira Hanson followed up her career-high 20 points against Maine with a 19 point three rebound performance in a 70-55 victory over UMBC on Thursday. Hanson converted on five of her eight three point attempts against the Retrievers. Hanson has no recorded double digits in three straight contests. During that span she is averaging 16.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in a career high 31 minutes per game. Over the last three games Hanson has connected on 48.2 percent (13-of-27) of her threes and 50.0 percent (18-of-36) of her shots from the floor.
 
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
NJIT enters Saturday's matchup at 8-7 overall and are searching for their first America East win. On the offensive side of the ball, the Highlanders are averaging 60.0 points per game on 39.5 percent shooting from the floor and 26.1 percent from deep. On the defensive end, NJIT is allowing 61.9 points per game on 38.5 percent shooting from the floor and 27.9 shooting from beyond the arc. The Highlanders are also recording 8.3 steals and 5.5 blocks per game. Their blocks per game leads the America East and is ranked 14th nationally. The Highlanders are led by reigning America East Rookie of the Year Alejandra Zuniga who is averaging 14.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Trinity Williams is second on the team in scoring with 9.7 points per contest, while leading the team in rebounding with 6.6 per game. Williams leads the team and America East in blocks (26) and blocks per game (1.9), while being ranked in the top 50 nationally in both.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 11th matchup all-time between the Catamounts and the Highlanders, with Vermont holding a 9-1 advantage in the series. The first time these two teams met was in 2015 when NJIT was a member of the A-SUN conference. Vermont came away with a 54-46 victory in that game. The Catamounts enter Saturday's matchup having won six consecutive games against the Highlanders. As America East rivals Vermont holds a 5-1 advantage over NJIT. Under Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge, the Catamounts are 7-1 against the Highlanders. In those eight games, Vermont has outscored NJIT by an average of 67.3-52.6 and have held the Highlanders under 50 points four times. Last season, Vermont won both meetings against NJIT. Against NJIT last year Delaney Richason had her way averaging 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.5 blocks per game on 55.6 percent shooting. In the first meeting with the Highlanders Richason recorded a career-high six blocks. Olson also had a very productive season against NJIT last year averaging 14.5 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game on 86.7 percent (13-of-15) shooting,
 
UP NEXT
Following Saturday's matchup, the Catamounts will return to Patrick Gym to host America East foe Binghamton on Thursday, January 19. Tip for that game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The international stream will 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