FINAL SCORE: Vermont 59, Lehigh 49

BETHLEHEM, PA – Senior Jadyn Weltz led all Catamounts with 15 points as Vermont (4–0, 0–0 AE) defeated Lehigh (1–3, 0–0 PL) by 10 points on Saturday afternoon at Stabler Arena, securing its fourth straight win to open the regular season.

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Box Score 

COACH'S QUOTE

"I just think our players were playing on our heels both offensively and defensively, especially in the first half," said Mayer Women's Basketball Head Coach Alisa Kresge. "We just talked about getting tougher. Don't play on your heels, square up, and be assertive with whatever you do. I thought we were just playing to their pace in the beginning, and that just wasn't going to benefit us." 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lehigh closed the first quarter on an 8–0 run, sending the Catamounts into the second quarter trailing 15–11.

• Vermont surged back as senior Nikola Priede found senior Keira Hanson beyond the arc to cut the deficit to 17–16 with 7:38 left in the quarter. 

• Senior Catherine Gilwee then buried a three-pointer off a feed from Weltz to tie the game at 27 with 2:29 remaining.

• Vermont opened the third quarter with a Priede free throw, and on the team's third trip down the floor, Priede converted an easy layup off strong ball movement to give the Catamounts a 30–28 lead at the 8:03 mark.

• Lehigh regained the lead on a three-point play by sophomore Bella Bramer with 5:36 left in the third, making it 33–32.

• The Catamounts responded with a 10–4 run to close the quarter, capped by a Priede layup off a Weltz assist to give Vermont a 42–37 advantage heading into the fourth.

• The Catamounts knocked down three three-pointers in the final quarter, one each from Weltz, sophomore Emma Haan, and Hanson, whose shot came off an offensive rebound by junior Malia Lenz. Gilwee assisted on Hanson's three-pointer, extending the lead to 55–41 with 5:41 to play.

• Lehigh answered with a three-pointer by first-year Alana Reddy at the 3:53 mark, but Vermont sealed the game at the line. 

• Gilwee and Hanson each made trips to the stripe, and Hanson's free throw with 16 seconds remaining pushed the Catamount lead to 59–47.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Hanson finished second on the team in scoring with 14 points.

• Lenz grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, including three on the offensive glass.

• Vermont shot 40.4% from the field, going 23-57.

• The Catamounts went 7-for-10 from the free-throw line, which was good for 70.0%.

• With today's Win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to the Lund Family Center through the Cat's Win, Community Win's initiative. Vermont Mutual has donated over $5 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund in 2014.

UP NEXT

Vermont's next game is at High Point, N.C., where the Catamounts will face High Point University on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN+. The radio broadcast will be available on the Varsity Network App with Ryan Zimmerman on the call.

Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball