Final: Vermont 52, Bryant 57
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Catamounts fell 57-52 on the road in Smithfield, Rhode Island in a back-and-forth battle with Bryant on Saturday afternoon. With the loss the Catamounts fall to 19-10 (11-4 AE), while with the victory the Bulldogs improves to 14-13 overall and 7-7 in America East play.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Disappointing performance today," Mayer Women's Head Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge said. "We didn't execute our game plan on either side of the ball. The great teams know how to show up no matter the circumstances day in and day out. It's something we haven't been able to do."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team was able to get separation to start the game, heading into the first media timeout tied 6-6 with 5:00 remaining in the first quarter. Emma Utterback had four points to lead the Catamounts.
• Coming out of the break a Mariona Planes Fortuny (gane-high 20 points) putback layup and a Kemari Reynolds free throw put the Bulldogs up 9-6.
• Vermont closed out the final 2:36 with a 5-0 run to take an 11-9 lead into the first stanza. Bella Vito converted a layup and Keira Hanson knocked down her first three of the contest for Vermont.
• The second quarter followed the same pattern as the first, with the two teams battling back-and-forth. An Anna Olson layup with 4:31 remaining in the first half sent the two teams into the second quarter media timeout tied, 17-17.
• The Catamounts closed out the second quarter strong with a 6-2 spurt to take a 23-19 lead into the halftime break. Utterback and Olson each scored two for the Catamounts while Andjela Matic scored her first basket of the contest.
• Bryant started the second half strong going on a 12-5 run to take a 31-28 lead capped by a Mia Mancini three and Planes Fortuny layup with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter.
• The two teams battled to a 7-7 draw of the next four minutes, before Delaney Richason hit a three with 1:19 left to tie the score at 38-38.
• Vermont began the fourth quarter on a quick 7-2 spurt to seize a 45-40 lead and force a Bryant timeout with 7:13 remaining. Utterback had four points, while Richason connected on another three for Vermont.
• Coming out of the timeout, Bryant responded with an 11-0 run over the next five plus minutes of action to take a 51-45 lead, one they would never relinquish. Planes Fortuny capped the run with an and-one layup with 1:54 left in the fourth quarter.
• Olson stemmed the tide for the Catamounts with two free throws and then scored on a putback on the next possession to draw the score to 51-49.
• That was the closest the Catamounts would get, as Bryant converted on their free throws down the stretch. Matic connected on a three with two seconds left and then Planes Fortuny converted one-of-two free throws to give the Bulldogs the 57-52 upset.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Olson led the Catamounts with 12 points alongside a tied team-high six rebounds. Olson also recorded a game-high three blocks.
• Richason finished with 11 points, six rebounds and two assists.
• Utterback finished in double figures for a team-leading 24th time this season, finishing with 10 points. Utterback also tied for a game-high with four assists.
• Vermont outscored the Bryant bench 12-5.
• The Catamounts connected on 27.8 percent of their threes and shot 71.4 percent from the charity stripe, while holding Bryant to 20 percent from three and 47.4 percent on free throws.  

 
UP NEXT
Following today's matchup, Vermont will have a week off before heading back on the road to face UMass Lowell on Saturday, March 2 in their final regular season game of the season. Saturday's matchup with the Riverhawks is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with the international stream 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 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