WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
The Catamounts (16-8, 8-2 AE) will host UMBC (8-14, 4-6 AE) in their annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day On Saturday (Feb. 10). Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION 
Saturday's matchup with the Retrievers 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
Game Notes: Vermont | UMBC
Watch Live: ESPN+ | AmericaEast.TV (Int'l)
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
Tickets
 
NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY
Saturday is the Catamounts' annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Game powered by Vermont Mutual. UVM will host a number of Junior Catamounts, for a variety of important gameday positions, who will be able to enjoy in-game experiences and opportunities for Saturday's matchup with UMBC. All kids 12 and younger will receive a free ticket to the game upon arrival on Saturday.
 
SPREAD RESPECT
Saturday will be the Catamounts annual Spread Respect Game. America East's Spread Respect initiative raises awareness to ensure equality and safety for all student-athletes, coaches, and fans without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity. America East and all of its member institutions are committed to ending discrimination and injustice. Join us by learning more at Americaeast.com/spreadrespect.
 
AMONG THE TOP OF THE AMERICA EAST
UVM sits alone for third place in America East standing having a 16-8 overall record and an 8-2 record in America East play. UVM is third in the conference in scoring margin at +5.6 per game. The Catamounts are second in field goal percentage (43.6) and second in opponent field goal percentage (38.4). Vermont is just one of three teams with two scorers in the top 10 in scoring in America East (joining Maine and Bryant). Utterback ranks sixth in the conference averaging 15.0 points per game. Olson is 10th in the league in scoring at 11.6 points per game while leading the conference in shooting percentage at 56.3 percent per game. Olson is also eighth in rebounds per game at 6.0 per game and fifth in total rebounds, having 145 on the season. Bella Vito ranks 12th in the conference in total rebounds, earning a total of 127 so far this season. Utterback is seventh in the conference in shooting percentage at 44.6 percent per contest and is third in the conference in assists at 4.3 per game and is tied for first in the conference with a total of 104 assists on the season.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Catamounts rank in the top 100 in several key categories this season. Vermont is allowing just 53.5 points per game which ranks sixth in the country while their three-point percentage allowed (28.7) is 79th in the nation. On the defensive side, Vermont is ranked 11th nationally in turnovers per game at just 12.1 while their assist to turnover ratio (1.11) is 45th in the country and are ranked 73rd in the nation in field goal percentage at 43.6 percent per game. Vermont is also 10th in the nation in fouls per game with just 13.1 and are 71st in blocks per game at 3.9. Emma Utterback ranks 40th nationwide with 152 field goals while being 37th nationwide in field goal attempts. Utterback ranks 88th in the nation with 4.3 assists per game and ranks 63rd in total assists with 104 on the season.
 
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE
The Catamounts are second in the conference in scoring defense surrendering just 53.6 points per game, which is ranked sixth in the country. The Catamounts are second in the conference in blocked shots per game (3.9) and second in total blocks this season (94). The Catamounts are the only team in the conference with three players in the top ten in blocked shots with Richason (seventh), and Olson (eighth) averaging 0.9 blocks a game and Priede (10th) averaging 0.8 blocks a game. Richason sits at fifth in total blocks having 22 on the season, followed by Olson who ranks sixth in the conference, earning 21 blocks so far this campaign. Priede rounds out the category for Vermont, ranking eighth in the conference in total blocks with 20 on the season. Vito ranks ninth overall in America East in total steals, earning 32 so far this season. Utterback ranks 17th in America East in total steals with 27. Vermont is 71st in the nation in blocks per game averaging 3.9 per contest. Over the past three seasons under Mayer Head Coach Alisa Kresge the Catamounts have ranked 11th or higher in the nation in points allowed per game, culminated by being ranked sixth nationally this season in points per game allowed (53.6).
 
NET RANKINGS
Maine currently leads America East with a NET ranking of 112, followed by UAlbany (126) in second and Vermont (149) in third, who are all in the top 200. Binghamton (255), New Hampshire (275) and Bryant (281) are also all ranked in the top 300.
 
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC enters Saturday's game on a two-game losing streak, having lost three of their last five matchups and are 8-14 overall and 4-6 in America East play this season. On offense, the Retrievers are scoring 59.6 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting from the floor and 31.7 percent from beyond the arc. On the defensive side, UMBC is surrendering 64.3 points per game on 42.1 percent from the field and 31.0 from deep while registering 6.3 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. Graduate forward Anna Blount leads the Retrievers in scoring and rebounding recording 13.3 points and 7.0 boards per contest. Blount is eighth in America East in scoring and is fourth in rebounding. Classmate Jaliena Sanchez is second on the team in scoring at 8.6 points per contest on 35.6 percent shooting from the floor. Graduate guard Trinity Palacio leads the Retrievers in assists with 50 and assists per game (2.3).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 46th matchup all-time between the Catamounts and Retrievers, with Vermont holding a 25-20 advantage. The first time these two teams met was in 2006 in Burlington where Vermont earned a 74-60 victory. Earlier this season the Catamounts and Retrievers faced off in Baltimore, Maryland with Vermont claiming a 70-55 win. Utterback and Olson led the Catamounts with 19 points apiece while Olson secured a game-high nine rebounds. Utterback also registered a game-high seven assists and connected on 44.4 percent (8-of-18) of her shots in the game. Hanson also tied for a game-high with 19 points of the bench for the Catamounts while connecting on 62.5 percent of her threes (5-of-8). The Catamounts have won seven out of eight contests against UMBC dating back to 2021.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Following Saturday's matchup with the Retrievers in the Catamount's annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Vermont will travel for a one-game road trip against New Hampshire on Thursday, February 15. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with the international stream available via AmericaEast.TV. Fans can also listen to the voice of Catamounts women's basketball, Ryan Zimmerman, 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.
 
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball