BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Dartmouth women’s basketball team impressed against defending America East Champion Vermont on Sunday, leading for more than 21 minutes of action, but the Catamounts used a 12-2 run to take a 59-55 lead, on the way to beating the Big Green 61-59. Four Dartmouth players scored double-figure points, led by 15 from Zeynep Ozel.
The Big Green began the second quarter on a 16-0 run to turn a 14-7 deficit into a 23-14 lead, then the teams went back-and-forth for the rest of the game.
Along with Ozel’s 15 points, Alexandra Eldredge scored 12 with Cate MacDonald and Olivia Austin each adding 10.
Dartmouth outrebounded Vermont, 36-27 and held the Catamounts to their lowest point total at home this season and lowest since February 8 (10 games ago).
The Big Green began the second quarter on a 16-0 run to turn a 14-7 deficit into a 23-14 lead, then the teams went back-and-forth for the rest of the game.
Along with Ozel’s 15 points, Alexandra Eldredge scored 12 with Cate MacDonald and Olivia Austin each adding 10.
Dartmouth outrebounded Vermont, 36-27 and held the Catamounts to their lowest point total at home this season and lowest since February 8 (10 games ago).
Score: Vermont 61, Dartmouth 59
Records: Vermont (11-4, 0-0 America East), Dartmouth (8-4, 0-0 Ivy League)
Location: Burlington, Vt. (Patrick Gymnasium)
Date: Sunday, December 28, 2025
Attendance: 1,072
UP NEXT:
- The Big Green wrap up nonleague play when they host St. Joseph’s Brooklyn on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
FIRST QUARTER:
- Baskets by MacDonald and Austin gave the Big Green an early 4-2 lead.
- Vermont responded with 12 of the final 15 points of the stanza, ending with a 7-1 run to take a 14-7 lead after one quarter of play.
SECOND QUARTER:
- The Big Green dominated early in the second, with Eldredge and Clare Meyer combining for the first 10 points of the quarter.
- Ozel then scored four of the next six points, as two free throws made it a 16-0 run and gave Dartmouth a 23-14 lead with 2:20 on the clock.
- Vermont responded with the final six points of the quarter to pull within 23-20 at the half.
THIRD QUARTER:
- Early in the third quarter saw four ties and two lead changes, with the score tied at 23, 25, 27 and 29.
- An Eldredge jumper gave the Big Green the lead back at 33-32 with 3:44 on the clock.
- Dartmouth’s led swelled to six at 40-34 after a MacDonald layup. Then two MacDonald free throws gave the Big Green a 42-36 lead after 30 minutes of play.
Pick and roll to perfection and the Big Green have re-opened a six-point, 40-34 lead late in the third!
Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/wjC2Vd46xp #GoBigGreen | #TheWoods pic.twitter.com/CW1ijYkg7R
— Dartmouth Women’s Basketball (@DartmouthWBB) December 28, 2025
FOURTH QUARTER:
- Dartmouth’s lead hovered between one and six through the beginning half of the fourth.
- A Ozel 3-pointer gave the Big Green a 53-37 lead with 4:35 on the clock.
- But Vermont quickly answered with a 7-0 run in the span of 1:23 as a Malia Lenz 3-pointer gave the Catamounts the lead back at 54-53 with 2:02 on the clock.
- Two Nina Minicozzi free throws gave Dartmouth the lead back, but Vermont’s Jadyn Weltz responded with a jumper for a 56-55 lead.
- The Big Green couldn’t pull any closer in the 61-59 defeat.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Dartmouth finished at 40.4% from the floor (21-of-52) and 17.6% from behind the arc (3-of-17).
- Vermont shot 41.8% (23-of-55), including 31.6% from three (6-of-19).
- The Big Green held a 36-27 edge in rebounds.
- Fourth Dartmouth players reached double-figures points for the second time this season.
QUOTABLE:
Hear from Coach Cimino following the victory.
