WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (19-10, 11-4 AE) travels to face the UMass Lowell River Hawks (4-23, 4-11 AE) on the road in their final regular season matchup of the campaign on Saturday (Mar. 2) from the Tsongas Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's matchup with the Riverhawks 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 | UMass Lowell
CatamounTV Preview: Coach Kresge | Olson
Watch Live: ESPN+ | International Stream
Listen on WVMT
Live Stats
 
JERSEY MIKE'S AMERICA EAST PLAYOFFS
The Catamounts have officially clinched a spot in the America East Quarterfinals that will take place at Patrick Gymnasium on Friday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. Season Ticket Holders can now purchase their quarterfinal tickets online by visiting uvmathletics.com/tickets, or in person by visiting the Patrick Gym Ticket Office, Tuesday through Friday, 10am-5pm. Season Ticket Holders must purchase their tickets by Wednesday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m. General Admission tickets will be made available starting on Monday, March 6 at 1:00 p.m.

AMONG THE BEST IN AMERICA EAST
The Catamounts are second in the conference in scoring defense surrendering just 52.4 points per game, which is ranked third in the country. UVM is third in the conference in scoring margin at +7.5 per game. The Catamounts are first in field goal percentage (44.1) and second in opponent field goal percentage (37.8). 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 14.5 points per game. Olson is ninth in the league in scoring at 11.7 points per game while leading the conference in shooting percentage at 58.1 percent per game. Olson is also ninth in rebounds per game at 6.0 per game and fifth in total rebounds, having 175 on the season. Bella Vito ranks 14th in the conference in total rebounds, earning a total of 145 so far this season. Vito is also eighth in total steals (41) and steals per game (1.4). Utterback is eighth in the conference in shooting percentage at 44.0 percent per contest and is third in the conference in assists at 4.1 per game and is third in the conference with a total of 118 assists on the season. Vermont ranks second in total assists as a team, earning 394 thus far. The Catamounts are third in the conference in blocked shots per game (3.9) and second in total blocks this season (115). Through the month of February the Catamounts led America East in scoring margin and in three point percentage (39.0%). 

NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Catamounts rank in the top 100 in several important categories this season. Vermont is allowing just 52.4 points per game which ranks third in the country while their three-point percentage allowed (28.2) is 45th in the nation. On the defensive side, Vermont is ranked 11th nationally in turnovers per game at just 12.0 while their assist to turnover ratio (1.13) is 40th in the country and are ranked 56th in the nation in field goal percentage at 44.1 percent per game. Vermont is also 12th in the nation in fouls per game with just 13.2 and are 67th in blocks per game at 4.0. Emma Utterback ranks 50th nationwide with 178 field goals while being 43rd nationwide in field goal attempts. Utterback ranks 72nd in the nation in total assists with 118 on the season.
 
DEFENSIVE MINDS
The Catamounts rank third in the nation in points per game allowed and are second in America East. Vermont is also second in America East and 57th nationwide in field goal percentage allowing just 37.8 percent game. UVM ranks 45th nationally in three-point percentage defense surrendering 28.2 percent per contest which is also second in the conference.
 
NET RANKINGS
Maine currently leads America East with a NET Rating of 114, followed by Vermont (132) in second and UAlbany (153) in third who are all in the top 200. Binghamton (234), Bryant (268), and New Hampshire (296) and UMBC (300) round out America East teams in the top 300.
 
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell enters Saturday's matchup with a 4-22 record. The River Hawks were unable to claim a win in their non-conference schedule but have gone 4-10 in America East play. On the offensive end, the River Hawks are averaging 52.3 points per game on 36.9 percent shooting from the floor and 26.5 percent from deep, while dishing out 10.6 assists per game. On the defensive side of the ball, UMass Lowell is surrendering 64.6 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting from the floor and 29.2 percent from deep. The River Hawks are also forcing 14.8 turnovers per game alongside 8.0 steals and 3.1 blocks per game. Mili Carrera leads UMass Lowell in scoring at 9.6 points per game to go along with 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Sydney Watkins leads the River Hawks in rebounding at 5.5 per game to go along with a team leading 2.9 assists per contest. Watkins is also third in scoring at 7.7, while Abbey Lindsey is second in scoring at 9.5 points per game alongside 2.8 boards per game.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the 22nd matchup all-time between the Catamounts and the River Hawks, with Vermont bolstering an 12-9 advantage in the series. The first time these two teams met was in 2013 when the River Hawks joined the America East. Vermont earned a 95-82 victory in that first meeting. The Catamounts are 8-5 against the River Hawks under Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge and have earned six consecutive victories. Earlier this season, Vermont defeated UMass Lowell 62-53, at Patrick Gym on January 25. In that matchup, Olson recorded a 20-point double-double, earning ten rebounds to go along with her 20 points, two assists and two blocks. Utterback contributed 17 total points, six assists and three steals. Hanson tallied 11 points with three baskets made from long distance and two assists in the win. Vito contributed eight rebounds and four assists to help rally the Catamounts past the Riverhawks. Last season, Vermont went 2-0 against UMass Lowell outscoring them by an average of 50.0-38.0 points per game. In their two matchups, Utterback led the team with 11.0 points per game alongside 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on 37.5 percent shooting per game. Olson had a strong season against UMass Lowell last year, recording 9.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on 44.4 percent shooting per game.
 
UP NEXT
Following Saturday's matchup with the River Hawks the Catamounts will host the America East Quarterfinal game at Patrick Gym on March 8. The start time for the match is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Ryan Zimmerman will be on the radio call on WVMT (FM 96.3/AM 620). Vermont has secured the number three seed and will host sixth seeded UMBC in the Jersey Mike's America East Quarterfinal on Friday, March 8. The rest of the conference bracket will be announced at the conclusion of all games on Saturday, March 2.