BURLINGTON, Vt. – For the first time since 2010, Vermont is the America East women’s basketball champion! A historic defensive effort paced the Catamounts on their way to a 38-36 win in the championship game in front of a raucous 2,500 fans at Patrick Gym on Friday evening.
 
Vermont (25-6) held UAlbany to a championship game record-low 36 points and held off a late Great Dane charge to claim the title. 
 
Emma Utterback scored 18 of Vermont’s 38 points and averaged 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists over the three championship games to earn Most Outstanding Player honors. She was joined on the All-Championship team by teammate Anna Olson, UAlbany’s Kayla Cooper and Ellen Hahne, and Maine’s Anne Simon.
 
UAlbany’s Grace Heeps, a senior with a perfect 3.95 GPA majoring in communication, was the women’s basketball Elite 18 honoree for having the highest GPA among champion game participants.
 
Winners of 17 games in a row, Vermont earned the No. 15 seed and will tavel to face No. 2 seed UConn in Storrs, Conn. on Saturday, March 18.
 
How it Happened

• Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter, combining to shoot just 4-of-29 from the field as the game was tied 4-4 after one.
• After UAlbany took a 7-4 lead, Vermont went on a 13-0 run to open up a 17-7 lead.
• Utterback, a first-team All-Conference selection, scored 11 of her team’s 13 points during the run.
• The Catamounts, who led 17-10 at the half, extended their advantage to 15 on Olson’s putback with 1:04 to go in the third. 
• UAlbany outscored UVM 19-8 in the fourth and Helene Haegerstrand’s three-pointer with nine seconds left made it a 37-36 contest.
• Delaney Richason was fouled and made just 1-of-2 free throws, but Grace Heeps’ three point attempt missed the mark and a Vermont celebration ensued.

• Vermont held UAlbany to just 36 points and 14 field goals, all championship game lows.
• UAlbany’s defense was just as stellar, holding UVM to a championship game record-low 23.6 percent shooting.
• UVM held a 53-36 rebounding advantage. The 53 boards tied the championship game record.
• Anna Olson added nine points and 16 rebounds, just one shy of the championship game record. Her 46 total boards in the tournament are a record.
• Kayla Cooper, a first-team All-Conference choice, paced UAlbany with 12 points and nine rebounds.

• With the win, Vermont claims its seventh title all-time and first since 2010.
• The seventh title ties the Catamounts with UAlbany for the second most in league history.
• UVM improved to 4-1 all-time in title games at Patrick Gym and 7-5 in title games all-time.
• Vermont is the 25th top seed to win the America East Tournament.

 
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field. 
 

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