Editor’s note: For post-game coverage, visit HERE.
Vermont women’s basketball seeks its second trip to the NCAA Tournament in three years when it takes on host Albany in today’s America East Conference championship game.
The No. 2 Catamounts (20-12) and the top-seeded Great Danes (26-5) square off for the conference’s automatic bid to March Madness. Tip-off time is set for 5 p.m. at Broadview Center in Albany, New York. The final will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.
During the regular season, Vermont and Albany each won on their home floor for the split: 64-55 Albany on Jan. 2; 59-50 Vermont on Feb. 8. The teams also met in the 2023 title game in Burlington, with the Catamounts prevailing in a defensive struggle. A year ago, Vermont defeated Albany in the semifinals on the road before losing in the league final at Maine.
More: How Vermont basketball coach Alisa Kresge built one of the nation’s toughest defenses
Anna Olson (12.8 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game), Keira Hanson (9.6 ppg), Nikola Priede (8.8 ppg), Bella Vito (8.0, 5.8 rpg, 2.1 spg), the league’s defensive player of the year, and hometown star Catherine Gilwee (7.8 ppg, 4.0 apg) lead balanced Vermont.
Kayla Cooper (17.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.8 apg), the league’s player of the year, Kaci Donovan (11.5 ppg), Jessica Tomasetti (9.1 ppg) and Lilly Phillips (9.0 ppg) are Albany’s top scorers.
Both teams are ranked top 10 in the nation in scoring defense: Vermont is sixth (52.1 ppg), Albany is eighth (52.9 ppg).
For live game updates and how to watch the Vermont vs. Albany today, including time, and streaming information, see below. Most recent updates will be displayed at the top.
Vermont’s Dancin’
Catamounts rely on decisive third quarter to build lead and knock off No. 1 Albany on its home floor for the America East championship. Vermont will head to its eighth NCAA Tournament in program history and second in three years.
Selection Show is 8 p.m. Sunday.
More: Vermont women’s basketball punches ticket to March Madness, captures America East title
40.3 seconds left in fourth quarter: Vermont 62, Albany 53
Vermont beats press and Nikola Priede (20 points) converts uncontested layup. Cats have shot 12 of 22 in the second half.
1:46 left in fourth quarter: Vermont 59, Albany 51
Catherine Gilwee goes 2-for-2 at the foul line.
3:05 left in fourth quarter: Vermont 55, Albany 46
After Albany gets to within four, Keira Hanson pours in a big 3-pointer and Anna Olson flips one off the clash. Cats closing in on program’s eighth NCAA Tournament bid. Timeout Albany.
4:19 left in fourth quarter: Vermont 50, Albany 44
Nikola Priede has been a force inside, and the 6-foot-2 center adds another post bucket to push her total to 18 points on the day. Timeout on the floor.
5:05 left in fourth quarter: Vermont 48, Albany 44
Kaci Donovan makes pair of foul shots for Albany. Great Danes close deficit.
8:00 left in fourth quarter: Vermont 46, Albany 37
Catherine Gilwee splashes long 3-pointer — from the parking lot anyone? — and Vermont builts double-digit lead before Kayla Cooper drives for two.
End of third quarter: Vermont 41, Albany 32
Catamounts take command in the third quarter. 10 minutes away from the NCAA Tournament.
2:28 left in third quarter: Vermont 37, Albany 32
Albany on a four-minute scoring drought.
4:48 left in third quarter: Vermont 37, Albany 32
Catamounts open their biggest lead after Anna Olson’s lefty post finish. Timeout on the floor. Great start to second half for Vermont.
Halftime: Vermont 28, Albany 28
Catherine Gilwee sinks two free throws with 2.1 seconds left in the first half. A fitting first-half tie.
At the break, Albany shooting 11 of 19 from the floor to Vermont’s 10 of 26. Vermont with 18-12 edge in paint scoring and 5-2 on second-chance points. But the Catamounts only scored two points off nine Albany turnovers
And the stat of the first half: The lead changed 13 times, tied on nine other occasions.
Nikola Priede up to 10 points for Vermont. Kayla Cooper with seven for Albany.
2:20 left in second quarter: Albany 23, Vermont 22
Kayla Cooper with a tough finish and the foul.
4:23 left in second quarter: Vermont 22, Albany 20
Sarah Ericson finds space to drive into paint, flipping in off the glass to cut Vermont’s deficit to one at the media timeout. Vermont is 9 of 19 from the floor, but Albany is 10 of 18 with a trio of 3s.
NOTE: Officials make a scoring change on an Albany bucket. Upon further review, the shot was not taken in time before the shot clock expired.
5:10 left in second quarter: Albany 23, Vermont 20
Kayla Cooper finds Jessica Tomasetti on a backdoor cut. Vermont’s Anna Olson answers with pair of foul shots.
6:18 left in second quarter: Albany 21, Vermont 18
Kayla Cooper spins for a layup. Good move from the America East player of the year.
End of first quarter: Vermont 14, Albany 13
Nikola Priede with six points to lead the Catamounts after the first quarter. Lilly Phillips also with six for the host Great Danes.
1:25 left in first quarter: Vermont 14, Albany 13
Keira Hanson drives for a layup and assists on another and Vermont inches back in front. We’ve already have six lead changes and three ties. Vermont also has 10 points in the paint.
Teams are combined 12 of 23 from the floor.
5:22 left in first quarter: Vermont 8, Albany 7
Bella Vito’s offensive rebound and putback leads to a foul. She completes the three-point. Good back and forth between these rivals.
Vermont-Albany starters for the America East championship game
Vermont staters: Bella Vito, Catherine Gilwee, Sarah Ericson, Anna Olson, Nikola Priede.
Albany starters: Kayla Cooper, Lilly Phillips, Delanie Hill, Kaci Donovan, Jessica Tomasetti.
What channel is Vermont women’s basketball vs Albany today?
∎ TV Channel: ESPNU
∎ Live stream: ESPN+ (sign up here)
∎ Local radio: 620 AM (online listen)
Vermont women’s basketball vs. Albany will broadcast nationally on ESPNU as well as ESPN+, which is ESPN’s subscription-based streaming service.
Vermont basketball vs Albany time today
∎ Date: Friday, March 14
∎ Start time: 5 p.m. ET
The Vermont women’s basketball vs. Albany game starts 5 p.m. Friday at Broadview Center in Albany, New York.
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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
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This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont vs Albany live score updates at America East championship
