WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts (8-6, 0-0 AE) will begin America East conference play on Thursday (Jan. 4) night when they host twin-state rival New Hampshire (6-7, 0-0 AE) at Patrick Gym. Tip for Thursday's matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The battle of the cats will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. 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.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Preview: Coach Kresge | Utterback
Game Notes: Vermont
Watch Live on ESPN+
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
Tickets
 
LOOKING TO REPEAT
Last season saw the Catamounts clinch both the America East regular season title and America East Tournament championship for the first time since 2000. Vermont looks to claim back-to-back regular season titles for the first time since the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. UVM is also looking to repeat as America East Tournament Champions for the first time since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. The last team to repeat as America East Champions was Stony Brook in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Maine was the last team to earn back-to-back regular season titles coming in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
 
AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
Vermont was selected first in the America East Preseason Poll receiving 63 total points and seven first place votes. Maine was selected second in the Preseason Poll receiving a total 58 points and the only two remaining first place votes. UAlbany (48), Binghamton (39) and NJIT (38) rounded out the top five. New Hampshire was selected eighth with a total of 17 points. Anna Olson and Emma Utterback were each named to the 2023-24 America East Preseason All-Conference team.
 
AMONG THE BEST IN AMERICA EAST
Vermont is currently second in America East in opponents points per game (53.9) and third in scoring margin (+2.9). The Catamounts are fourth in opponent field goal percentage allowed at 38.6 percent per game and offensive field goal percentage at 42.7 percent per contest. Utterback is third in the conference in scoring (15.7), seventh in field goal percentage (46.4) and third in assists (4.6) per game. Olson is 10th in the conference in scoring (11.0), 14th in rebounding (5.6), first in field goal percentage (56.2 percent) and 11th in blocks (nine) and blocks per game (0.6). Delaney Richason is fifth in total blocks (13) and blocks per game at 0.9.
 
A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
Utterback had a remarkable month of December, guiding Vermont to a 4-2 record while averaging 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game on a remarkable 47.3 percent shooting from the floor. During December, she scored at least 13 points in five of Vermont's six games, while also recording five or more assists in three contests. During this span, Utterback moved into eighth all-time in program history with 1,488 points in her career and fourth in career assists with 440.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
New Hampshire enters Thursday's matchup with a 6-7 record while averaging 55.2 points per game. On offense, the Wildcats are shooting 35.8 percent from the field and 28.6 percent beyond the arc. On the defensive side, New Hampshire is surrendering 56.0 points per game on 38.3 percent shooting and 29.5 percent from trey, while registering 9.0 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. Sophomore guard Avery O'Connor leads the Wildcats in scoring coming off the bench at 9.2 points to go along with 2.5 rebounds per game. Junior Clara Gomez leads the team in rebounding at 6.4 points per game and is fourth in scoring at 4.8 per game. Breezie Williams leads the Wildcats with 2.3 assists per game while being third on the team in scoring at 6.5 per contest.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 91st matchup all-time between the Catamounts and the Wildcats with Vermont boasting a 50-40 advantage in the series. The first time these two teams met was in 1976 where the Catamounts came away with a 72-55 victory. The last time these two teams met was last season (2/15/23) in Durham where Vermont earned a 43-36 victory. The Catamounts have won five consecutive games against New Hampshire dating back to 2020. Under Mayer Women's Head Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge, the Catamounts are 7-1 against New Hampshire and are 3-1 at Patrick Gym. In those eight games, Vermont is outscoring New Hampshire by an average of 56.4-49.6 per game, while also holding the Wildcats to 50 points or less in four of those matchups. New Hampshire bolsters the longest winning streak in the series having won 12 straight from 1978 to 1987. Vermont's longest winning streak in the series is 11 games, coming from 2006 to 2010.
 
UP NEXT
Following Thursday's matchup with the Wildcats, UVM will begin a three game conference road trip starting with Maine on Saturday, January 6. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. 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