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March is known for madness, late-game dramatics and buzzer-beaters. The 1,148 fans inside Patrick Gym were treated to it all during No. 1 Vermont women's basketball's 68-65 double-overtime win over No. 4 UMBC in the America East semifinals on Monday, March 9.
With the win Vermont advanced to its fourth straight America East championship game on Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. and will host No. 2 Maine.
"I have been in a lot of tense games, but not sure if it's been double-overtime like this," coach Alisa Kresge said. "It's incredible just punch for punch."
This was the first overtime game Vermont has played all season and was the fourth time that Vermont (26-7) played an overtime America East playoff game.
Here's a detailed recap of how UMBC forced overtime and how Vermont survived the upset bid.
During UMBC's upset of Vermont on Feb. 21, the Retrievers relied on offensive rebounding and second-chance points. UMBC used those strengths to erase a nine-point halftime deficit. The Retrievers grabbed 5 offensive rebounds in the second half and scored baskets on all those possessions giving them 11 second-chance points pushing their regulation total to 16.
Besides the offensive rebounds, the Retrievers put together a 10-0 run in the third quarter after a timeout. UMBC (16-14) never grabbed a lead in the fourth quarter, but Jade Tillman hit her second clutch shot at Patrick Gym after hitting the game winner on Feb. 21.
Vermont took a two-point lead with 2.9 seconds left in regulation after Jadyn Weltz made her free throws. Tillman answered by scoring a reverse layup at the buzzer forcing overtime. She scored the game winner in UMBC's quarterfinals win as well.
Tillman finished with a game-high 32 points and was the only Retriever to score double-figures.
Vermont relies heavily on its starters. Nikola Priede, Keira Hanson and Weltz played all 40 minutes of regulation and were on track to play the entire overtime.
Weltz picked up her fifth foul with 57 seconds remaining in the first overtime and Vermont clinging to a 54-53 lead. At the time Weltz was Vermont's leading scorer with 23 points and had the team's only 3-point makes.
"I had full faith in who was stepping up," Weltz said. "That's what we did, everyone took pride in their role and we came together as a team."
With Weltz done, Vermont brought in sixth-woman Jacklynn Hosier. The freshman knocked down some crucial free throws in the second overtime period and played well as the team's inbounder.
But it was Hanson who sent this game to double-overtime. Following a timeout, Hanson hit the tying pull up jumper with two seconds remaining. The senior had a quiet night finishing with 10 points, but one of the biggest plays.
"I actually gave them the time they wanted to get the shot off because we wanted an offensive rebound, but I looked at Keira and I go 'It doesn't matter you are going to make it,'" Kresge said. "They were in her shorts all game, but she found a way in the biggest moment."
The second overtime featured a lot of free throws with both teams in the bonus. The Catamounts finished overtime shooting 10-for-14 from the free-throw line. Vermont's lone field goal in double overtime was a Priede jumper.
Emma Haan contributed 14 rebounds and nine points. Haan's rebounds helped Vermont keep pace with the Retrievers on the glass who dominated that category on Feb. 21. UMBC outrebounded Vermont 37-35.
Priede reached her 1,000th career point on a fadeaway jumper in the fourth quarter becoming the 28th Catamount player to reach that milestone. At that time, that basket gave Vermont a 47-44 lead with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
She joins teammates Keira Hanson and Weltz in accomplishing that milestone this season. Priede had a big night with 22 points and crossed the 1,000-point mark despite only working her way into the starting rotation last year.
The senior didn't know she had scored 1,000 points until the PA announcer said it during the on-court celebration. Priede received some extra love from her teammates.
"It's amazing to be in that little club," Priede said. "I was just happy that we won, all the emotions came out because all of us fought through two overtimes which I have never done in my life."
Contact Judith Altneu at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont women's basketball wins to advance to America East final
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With the win Vermont advanced to its fourth straight America East championship game on Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. and will host No. 2 Maine.
"I have been in a lot of tense games, but not sure if it's been double-overtime like this," coach Alisa Kresge said. "It's incredible just punch for punch."
This was the first overtime game Vermont has played all season and was the fourth time that Vermont (26-7) played an overtime America East playoff game.
Here's a detailed recap of how UMBC forced overtime and how Vermont survived the upset bid.
Jade Tillman and UMBC's strong second-half force overtime
During UMBC's upset of Vermont on Feb. 21, the Retrievers relied on offensive rebounding and second-chance points. UMBC used those strengths to erase a nine-point halftime deficit. The Retrievers grabbed 5 offensive rebounds in the second half and scored baskets on all those possessions giving them 11 second-chance points pushing their regulation total to 16.
Besides the offensive rebounds, the Retrievers put together a 10-0 run in the third quarter after a timeout. UMBC (16-14) never grabbed a lead in the fourth quarter, but Jade Tillman hit her second clutch shot at Patrick Gym after hitting the game winner on Feb. 21.
Vermont took a two-point lead with 2.9 seconds left in regulation after Jadyn Weltz made her free throws. Tillman answered by scoring a reverse layup at the buzzer forcing overtime. She scored the game winner in UMBC's quarterfinals win as well.
Tillman finished with a game-high 32 points and was the only Retriever to score double-figures.
One of Vermont's starters fouls out late in first overtime
Vermont relies heavily on its starters. Nikola Priede, Keira Hanson and Weltz played all 40 minutes of regulation and were on track to play the entire overtime.
Weltz picked up her fifth foul with 57 seconds remaining in the first overtime and Vermont clinging to a 54-53 lead. At the time Weltz was Vermont's leading scorer with 23 points and had the team's only 3-point makes.
"I had full faith in who was stepping up," Weltz said. "That's what we did, everyone took pride in their role and we came together as a team."
With Weltz done, Vermont brought in sixth-woman Jacklynn Hosier. The freshman knocked down some crucial free throws in the second overtime period and played well as the team's inbounder.
But it was Hanson who sent this game to double-overtime. Following a timeout, Hanson hit the tying pull up jumper with two seconds remaining. The senior had a quiet night finishing with 10 points, but one of the biggest plays.
"I actually gave them the time they wanted to get the shot off because we wanted an offensive rebound, but I looked at Keira and I go 'It doesn't matter you are going to make it,'" Kresge said. "They were in her shorts all game, but she found a way in the biggest moment."
The second overtime featured a lot of free throws with both teams in the bonus. The Catamounts finished overtime shooting 10-for-14 from the free-throw line. Vermont's lone field goal in double overtime was a Priede jumper.
Emma Haan contributed 14 rebounds and nine points. Haan's rebounds helped Vermont keep pace with the Retrievers on the glass who dominated that category on Feb. 21. UMBC outrebounded Vermont 37-35.
Nikola Priede becomes third Catamount this season to cross 1,000 points
Priede reached her 1,000th career point on a fadeaway jumper in the fourth quarter becoming the 28th Catamount player to reach that milestone. At that time, that basket gave Vermont a 47-44 lead with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
She joins teammates Keira Hanson and Weltz in accomplishing that milestone this season. Priede had a big night with 22 points and crossed the 1,000-point mark despite only working her way into the starting rotation last year.
The senior didn't know she had scored 1,000 points until the PA announcer said it during the on-court celebration. Priede received some extra love from her teammates.
"It's amazing to be in that little club," Priede said. "I was just happy that we won, all the emotions came out because all of us fought through two overtimes which I have never done in my life."
Contact Judith Altneu at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont women's basketball wins to advance to America East final
Continue reading...
