BOSTON - The 2026 America East Women's Basketball All-Conference teams and major award winners were announced Wednesday afternoon. Vermont earned two major awards and had three all-conference selections.

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America East Release

Mayer Women's Basketball Head Coach Alisa Kresge received Coach of the Year, while Nikola Priede was honored by being named Defensive Player of the Year. 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Nikola Priede, Sr., Vermont

Priede became the fourth Catamount to receive this honor after Bella Vito received it last season. Priede finished the regular season leading the league in blocks (1.3 per game) and field goal percentage (59.6%) while ranking fourth in scoring at 17.4 points per game.

Her defensive presence has helped Vermont rank fourth nationally in scoring defense, entering the postseason the Catamounts are holding opponents to just 51.8 points per game.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Alisa Kresge 

Mayer Women's Basketball Head Coach Alisa Kresge earned her second America East Coach of the Year after leading Vermont to its fifth consecutive 20-win season. It is the first time in program history they've won 20-games in five straight seasons. The Catamounts clinched their first outright regular season title since 2002 in the regular season finale with a 68-37 victory over the UMass Lowell River Hawks on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Vermont finished the regular season atop the league in scoring (66.2 points per game), scoring defense (51.8 points allowed per game), field goal percentage (45.6%), and 3-point field goal percentage (34.7%). The Catamounts also committed a league-low 10.5 turnovers per game and posted a +4.03 turnover margin.

Along with Priede earning Defensive Player of the Year, and Kresge earning Coach of the Year, Priede and Keira Hanson were also nominated for All-Conference First Team, while Jadyn Weltz was nominated for All-Conference Second Team. Priede was also nominated to the All-Defensive Team and the All-Academic Team. 

Vermont will host the eight-seed UAlbany tomorrow, Thursday, March 5, in a quarterfinal matchup. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Patrick Gym. Fans can watch the action live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. Tickets are available at go.uvm.edu/m5qtr.

For news and updates about the Vermont women's basketball program, follow @catamountsbb on Instagram and @uvmwbb on X, and Facebook or visit UVMathletics.com.

Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball