BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont earned its first postseason victory since 2008, outlasting a tough Niagara square 69-63 in the second round of the WNIT on Monday evening. The Catamounts will host Colgate in the Super 16 on Friday evening at 6 p.m.
Monday’s win also marked the conference’s first victory in the WNIT since the Catamounts won in the first round back in 2008 . UVM (23-11) faces a Colgate squad which has already won twice in the WNIT, including an opening round win against UAlbany, 64-50.
How it Happened
- It was a slow start to the game, but UVM finished with a 16-14 lead at the end of the period, highlighted by two Andjela Matic threes.
- UVM went on a 15-2 run to grab a 31-21 advantage in the second but Niagara answered back with a 6-2 run to close the period down 33-27. The third period was back-and-forth as neither could gain an advantage.
- Tied 52 apiece with 5:34 left, Keira Hanson hit a jumper to break the draw and the Catamounts didn’t trail the rest of the contest as they made enough free throws for the six-point win.
- Matic had a career-high 19 points and four threes while Emma Utterback added 17 points.
- Niagara forced UVM into 20 turnovers and 23 points off turnovers to keep the score close while shooting 31.7 percent from the floor. Vermont shot 46.5 percent from the field.
Looking Ahead
- Colgate owns a 20-13 overall record and has won four of its last four games, including a 54-41 victory over Providence to advance to the Super 16.
- The Raiders took down the Great Danes 64-50 in the opening round by holding UAlbany to 36.4 percent shooting and just 3-for-16 from beyond the arc.
- This season Colgate is averaging 62.0 points per game while allowing 55.4 per contest. Three players are scoring in double figures, led by Taylor Golembiewski’s 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
- Vermont has been led by Utterback all season, with the graduate student averaging 14.3 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.
- Anna Olson had six points, eight rebounds and seven assists on Monday and for the season is averaging 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.0 block per game.
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