Coach Alisa Kresge had a message for her team during the first quarter media timeout when Vermont trailed on Friday, March 13, in the America East women’s basketball tournament championship game.
“We said we have done this before and we are not doing it again,” she told her players.
That statement lit a fire in the top-seed Vermont women’s basketball team. The Catamounts proceeded to go on a large scoring run and never looked back enroute to 61-43 win over No. 2 seed Maine in the title game in front of 2,247 at Patrick Gym.
Vermont successfully defended its America East tournament title and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
The Catamounts (27-7) qualified for their ninth NCAA Tournament, marking the first time they have done it in back-to-back seasons since 2009 and 2010.
Following that first-quarter timeout, Vermont proceeded to go on a 19-2 run over a nearly eight-minute stretch in the first and second quarters. During that run, Keira Hanson splashed in a pair 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions.
“Everyone just did their part, no matter if it was on the court or on the bench, injured,” Hanson said. “This team just felt so connected, it meant so much to do it outright and on our home court.”
Vermont dominated in the paint, scoring 34 of its 61 points there. Only four of the Catamounts starters scored, but all four reached double figures. Keira Hanson led the Catamounts with 23 points including Vermont’s only 3-point makes. Nikola Priede contributed 14 points, Jadyn Weltz scored 11 points and Malia Lenz finished with a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double.
Vermont showcased how its prolific offense can flip a seven-point deficit in the opening six minutes into an eventual 20-point lead in the fourth quarter. The dominant outing in the America East championship game comes after Maine beat the Catamounts, 55-49, in Patrick Gym on Feb. 5.
“A lot of credit (to the players) to respond after the performance we had the last time we met them on this floor,” Kresge said. “We took it personally, and we are going to make sure that if they beat us they are going to work for everything.”
Adrianna Smith led the Black Bears (19-13) with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Vermont’s defense did its job shutting down Maine’s offense as the Black Bears shot 28.8% from the field.
“It was our job especially at the beginning to keep pushing and trying our hardest,” Priede said.
Nikola Priede named America East’s Most Outstanding Player for second straight year
For the second straight year, Priede was named the America East tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. The senior finished the three-game tournament averaging 17.3 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 58.5% from the field.
Weltz and Hanson joined Priede on the all-tournament team. These seniors got to share a special moment while playing in Patrick Gym for the final time in their careers.
Jadyn Weltz wins her first America East championship
Weltz got to experience her first taste of winning an America East championship. The redshirt senior spent the last four seasons at Binghamton, which never made it past the America East semifinals.
Weltz has been a key piece for the Catamounts, averaging 12 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists. She was the leading scorer in Vermont’s semifinal win against UMBC.
“It means the world to me,” Weltz said. “I’m so grateful to be part of a program as amazing as this one.”
The women’s NCAA tournament field will be announced at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 15, on ESPN where the Catamounts will learn their destination and opponent.
Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
