Vermont capitalizes on Maine weaknesses for win

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ORONO – Rebounding and turnovers have been the two factors that have cost the University of Maine women’s basketball team ballgames early this season.

The Vermont Catamounts took advantage of those particular weaknesses Friday night, outrebounding the Black Bears 45-31 and scoring 22 points off 21 UMaine turnovers on their way to an 84-66 America East victory in front of 2,453 fans at Alfond Arena.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s Black Bears were game, but had too many defensive breakdowns against the sharpshooting Catamounts, who pulled away in the last three minutes with an 11-for-14 effort from the foul line.

UMaine dipped to 4-8 overall, 1-3 in conference play, heading into Sunday’s game at Northeastern. Vermont improved to 7-6 and 3-1, respectively.

“Rebounding and turnovers, that’s all we’ve talked about all year,” Versyp said. “They dominated the boards… and if you look at the points off turnovers, 22-6, and then second-chance points, 25-10, there’s the game. [Vermont] hustled every second. They wanted every ball and our kids were half a step slow.”

The Bears trailed most of the way, but didn’t allow the Catamounts to distance themselves until forced to foul in the late going. UMaine was within five points at 57-52 with 9:34 to play, but was never able to close the gap further.

Vermont found ways to answer the Bears’ challenges, thanks to a free-flowing offense that utilized the talents of junior guard Libby Smith and sophomore swing players Morgan Hall and Dawn Cressman.

Smith poured in 25 points to lead the Catamounts while Hall provided 24 points and 13 rebounds. Cressman added 16 points and six boards. The Catamounts grabbed 19 offensive boards.

“Vermont’s a phenomenal team,” Versyp said. “They’re fundamentally sound, they knock down the shots, they play as a team and they’re real comfortable and confident when they hit the floor.”

Senior co-captain Kizzy Lopez took the Bears on her shoulders in the second half, connecting for 12 of UMaine’s first 15 points and 16 of the first 23 with some savvy moves in the paint. She finished with a career-high 23 points in 26 minutes.

“I guess I kind of knew that someone had to step up and play,” Lopez said. “When that starts happening, then the team starts coming together and it doesn’t matter who it is. I just went out there and did the best I could.”

Freshman guard/forward Julie Veilleux of Augusta tossed in 16 points, while classmate Heather Ernest of Temple contributed 14 points and eight rebounds while logging 38 minutes. Senior co-captain Tracy Guerrette handed out eight assists and scored five points.

Hall connected for 15 of Vermont’s first 19 points in the second half, but it wasn’t until a key four-minute stretch beginning at the 8:11 mark that the Cats finally got the upper hand for good.

Leading 59-53, Smith drained a 3-pointer and Cressman hit a seven-footer from the baseline. Veilleux then sandwiched an offensive rebound hoop and a 3-pointer around Hall’s 17-footer.

Cressman’s 3-pointer and a seven-foot runner by Smith pushed Vermont’s lead to 71-58 with 4:06 left and the Bears turned the ball over on the next two possessions before choosing to either get a steal or foul.

“I wouldn’t say it comes easy. We work hard to make it look easy,” Hall said of Vermont’s quick-striking offense.

The Cats scored the last nine points of the first half while building a 40-28 halftime advantage. The Bears quickly pared the Cats’ lead to six as Lopez converted three shots from the paint in the first 1:47 of the second half.

However, Hall scored seven points from long range to spark a 9-5 spurt that pushed Vermont’s lead to 49-39 with 15:47 to play.

While UMaine battled, Vermont seemed able to get its best shooters open, thereby maintaining the lead.

The Catmounts eventually tacked a 9-0 on top of an eight-point bulge, providing plenty of cushion down the stretch.

The Catamounts scored the last nine points of the first half while building a 40-28 bulge at intermission.

UMaine had kept it close most of the half thanks to aggressive defense that included man-to-man and a combination of zone sets. However, Vermont was able to get its perimeter shooters open, led by Smith, who tossed in 14 first-half points.

Catamounts 84, Black Bears 66

Vermont (7-6) Maine (4-8)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG F AF TP

Larocque 1 3 0 1 2 Heon 0 4 0

Cressman 5 12 4 4 16 Ernest 5 10 14

Smith 7 15 8 10 25 Guerrette 2 10 5

Bryan 4 12 0 0 8 Lopez 9 17 5 23

Burroughs 0 1 0 0 0 James 2 2 4

Macaulay 0 0 0 0 0 Moldre 0 0 0

Yantzi 2 4 1 1 5 Stone 2 2 0 4

Mulligan 0 0 0 0 0 Veilleux 6 13 0 1 16

Hall 10 18 3 4 24 Geraghty 0 1 0

Brownlee 0 1 4 4 4

Totals 29 66 20 24 84 Totals 26 59 8 12 66

Vermont 40 84

Maine 28 66

3-pt. goals: Vermont (6-13): Larocque 0-1, Cressman 2-5, Smith 3-4, Hall 1-3; Maine (6-17): Heon 0-3, Ernest 1-2, Guerrette 1-5, Lopez 0-1, Veilleux 4-6

Attendance: 2,453