Thornton notched season-highs with ten points and five rebounds to lead the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

Catamounts advance to Sunday championship behind 16 points, five assists from Utterback

BURLINGTON, Vt. (November 26, 2022) – The University of Vermont advanced to tomorrow's championship of the 2022 TD Bank Classic with a 70-48 victory over Stonehill College in women's basketball action at Patrick Gymnasium this afternoon.

Senior guard Emma Utterback led four Vermont players in double-figures with a game-high 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting, with five assists and two rebounds. The Catamounts outscored Stonehill 45-22 over the middle two quarters to gain control of the contest after the two teams were even at 14 apiece after a quarter of play. UVM shot 16-for-27 (59.3-percent) from the floor, including 6-for-9 (66.7%) from three-point distance, in the second and third quarters combined.

Junior Jada Thornton led Stonehill as the lone Skyhawk in double-figures with a season-high ten points and five rebounds, adding a steal off the bench.

Vermont (3-3, 0-0 AE) will face Siena College (3-3, 0-0 MAAC) in tomorrow's TD Bank Classic championship at 3 p.m. The Saints advanced with a 78-71 win in today's second game against Oakland University. Stonehill (1-5, 0-0 NEC) and Oakland (Mich.) will square off in Sunday's consolation opener at Patrick Gym at noon. 

Leaders

Stonehill

Thornton: Season-high 10 points (4-for-4 FTs), five rebounds, steal.

Sophie Glidden Fifth-year, Forward: Eight points, six rebounds, assist.

Chelsea Graiver Freshman, Guard: Season-best eight points (2-for-3 threes), assist. 

Vermont
Utterback: Game-high 16 points (7-for-15), five assists, two rebounds.

Maria Myklebust Sophomore, Forward: 15 points (5-for-5, 2-for-2 threes, 3-for-3 FTs), two rebounds.

Catherine Gilwee Sophomore, Guard: 13 points (5-for-9, 3-for-6 threes), four assists, rebound and steal.

Glidden added eight points and six rebounds, leading the Skyhawks in rebounding for the fourth time in six games this season (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

How it Happened

• Stonehill scored first with a jumper in the paint by junior Cameron Ward and then capped the opening quarter with a 5-1 spurt to pull even (14-14) after a quarter of play with a Ward three-pointer with 26-seconds left.
• After junior Anna Olson and Thornton traded baskets to open the second quarter, Vermont scored ten-straight, keyed by three-pointers from senior Delaney Richason and Gilwee to grab a ten-point lead (26-16) at start an overall 13-2 run that opened an 11-point cushion (29-18) after another Gilwee triple midway through the frame.
• Vermont would score 29 points in the second quarter overall, on 10-of-15 (66.7%) shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, to open a 16-point halftime lead (43-27), capped by a Myklebust three-pointer with three seconds left.
• The Catamounts kept the pressure on to start the second half, stretching their lead to 18 (45-27) with an Utterback layup off a Richason steal 43-seconds in.
• The UVM lead grew to 19 (48-29) after an Olson three-point play, but Stonehill made a push to within 15 (48-33) after a layup by postgrad Maddie Loder four minutes in.
• Myklebust and Graiver traded three-pointers, but Vermont scored the final eight points of the third to open a 23-point cushion (59-36) entering the final quarter.
• Stonehill would outscore Vermont 12-11 in the fourth quarter, scoring the first seven points of the frame, capped by two-straight layups from Thornton, to pull back within 16 (59-43) and force a Catamounts timeout after two and a half minutes.
• The Skyhawks crept back within 15 (63-48) with a Graiver three with 4:22 to play, but would get no closer.

Noteworthy

• This afternoon marked the first meeting all-time between Stonehill and Vermont in an official contest. The Skyhawks had notched a 74-69 exhibition victory over the Catamounts at the outset of the 2013-14 season.
• Thornton scored in double-figures for the first time this season and third game of her career.
• Glidden has led the Skyhawks in rebounding in four of their six games this season.
• The teams combined for just 17 turnovers: Stonehill 9, Vermont 8.
• Vermont recorded 15 assists on its 27 field goals in the game, while Stonehill was credited with just five on 18 makes.
• Sunday will mark Stonehill's first meeting with Oakland University, located in Rochester, Michigan.

Up Next
Stonehill (1-5, 0-0 NEC) is right back in action tomorrow for the TD Bank Classic consolation game against Oakland (Mich.) University at noon. The Skyhawks next home game is Wednesday, December 14, when they host UAlbany at Merkert Gym at 6 p.m. Vermont (3-3, 0-0 AE) hosts Siena for the TD Bank Classic Championship tomorrow at 3 p.m.

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