LOWELL, Mass. – The Catamounts concluded their regular season with a 55-51 victory over UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon at the Tsongas Center. With the victory the Catamounts earned their third consecutive 20-win season, finishing 20-10 (12-4 AE). With the loss the River Hawks fall to 4-24 on the season and 4-12 in America East play.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"At the end of the game, we found a way to get stops, execute and make winning plays," Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge said. "We haven't always found a way and it's good to see our team figure it out. Our record is 0-0 and we are on to UMBC."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Keira Hanson began the scoring for the Catamounts with a layup on their first possession to seize a 2-0 lead with 9:45 remaining in the opening quarter.
• From there, over the next three plus minutes the two teams traded baskets with Vermont maintaining a 6-5 advantage.
• Delaney Richason connected on a layup with 6:01 remaining in the first quarter to put Vermont up 6-5 which helped spark an 11-2 Catamounts' run to close the opening frame and send UVM into the second quarter with a 15-7 lead. UVM was led by five points from Richason and four from Anna Olson. Maddie Rice scored the lone two points for the River Hawks.
• To start the second quarter the two teams went back-and-forth over the first five minutes of the quarter with Vermont holding a slight 9-8 advantage following a Hanson three with 4:56 remaining in the half.
• The River Hawks responded with a 10-3 run of their own to close out the first half and send the game into halftime tied at 26. UMass Lowell was led by six point from Mili Carrera and four points from Sydney Watkins. Watkins connected on a floating buzzer-beater to send the game into halftime knotted at 26.
• The two teams battled throughout the third quarter with neither team able to gain an advantage over the other.
• Vermont shot just 2-8 from the field in the third quarter but connected on 7-of-8 free throws and held UMass Lowell to only 3-of-12 shooting to send the game into the fourth quarter tied at 37.  
• Entering the fourth quarter the Catamounts got off to a quick start with a 7-3 spurt to capture a 44-40 lead with 6:02 remaining in the game, a lead UVM would never relinquish.
• UMass Lowell would not go away quietly and continued to battle the Catamounts until the end with Vermont holding just a 12-11 advantage over the final six minutes of the contest.
• Over the final six minutes of the contest Vermont shot 4-of-7 led by five points from Emma Utterback and three from Olson while UMass Lowell connected on 5-of-8 shots led by seven points from Leilani Rodriguez.
• Vermont was able to hold their advantage and secure a 55-51 victory in their regular season finale.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Hanson made her first career start and finished with a game-high 16 points alongside three rebounds and one steal.
• Olson finished with 10 points, two rebounds and one block.
• Vito finished with a game-high seven rebounds to go along with eight points and two assists.
• The Catamounts shot a season-high 20 free throws, connecting on 15 of them.
• Vermont shot better from the field (43.9 percent) and three-point line (36.4 percent).
• The Catamounts earned their third consecutive 20-win season for the first time under Mayer Head Women's Basketball Coach Alisa Kresge. This is just the second time in program history Vermont has recorded three straight 20-win seasons.
• With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $94,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.

 
WHO'S NEXT 
Following today's matchup with the River Hawks the Catamounts have secured the three seed and will host the America East Quarterfinal game at Patrick Gym on March 8. The start time for that game is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Ryan Zimmerman will also be on the radio call on WVMT (FM 96.3/AM 620). 
 
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, Monday 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.