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Game Notes (.pdf) | Championship Central
Vermont, the 2008 America East women's basketball regular season runners-up, hosts Dartmouth in the first round of the 2008 Postseason WNIT on Thursday at 7:00pm at Patrick Gymnasium. The game will be broadcast on WVMT-620 AM and on the Internet at SportsJuice.com. Live video of the game will also be streamed over the Internet on a pay-per-view basis ($6) via B2 Networks. This is the second time, first since 2002, that the Catamounts have hosted a WNIT game at Patrick Gymnasium. Vermont advanced to the quarterfinals with a pair of wins in the 2002 WNIT. The Catamounts enter the game with a record of 23-8. Dartmouth earned an automatic bid to the WNIT and is representing the Ivy League. Dartmouth, Harvard and Cornell shared the Ivy League Regular Season title three ways and had a two-game playoff to decide which team would represent the league in the NCAA Tournament. Dartmouth defeated Harvard, 68-62, last Friday, but fell to Cornell on Sunday, 64-47. The Big Red earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament with the win and Dartmouth was selected to the WNIT. LAST TIME OUT - Boston U 76, Vermont 74 (2ot) | Box Score
No. 2 Vermont and No. 3 Boston University battled for 50 minutes in the first-ever double-overtime game in America East Women's Basketball Championship history, but the Terriers came away with a 76-74 victory in the semifinals contest. Vermont started the game 3-16 from the field and turned the ball over 12 times in the opening half to allow the Terriers to take a 10 point lead, 20-10, with 7:44 remaining in the stanza. The Catamount trimmed the lead to four on a jumper by Courtnay Pilypaitis at the 2:44 mark, but closed the half with an 8-2 spurt, all eight points coming from Pilypaitis, to take a 31-22 lead into halftime. Vermont shot 28 percent from the floor, while Boston U went 12-for-29 (41.4%) from the field in the half. The Catamounts started the second half with a 16-2 run erase the deficit and took their first lead of the game, 34-33, on a pair of free throws by May Kotsopoulos at the 14:55 mark. UVM pushed its lead to five on a layup by Kotsopoulos and a jumper by Kelli Poles at the 11:20 mark. The Terriers fought back and tied the game up, 45-45, on a pair of free throws by Amarac Umez-Eronini at the 7:17 mark. The Catamounts responded with six straight points to pull ahead 51-45, with 4:21 left in regulation. Boston U tied the game up again at the 3:33 mark on a pair of free throws from Christine Kinneary and took a two point lead, 53-51, on free throws by Jesyka Burks-Wiley at the 3:20 mark. Pilypaitis drained a three-pointer with 2:06 showing to shove Vermont in front by one, 54-53, but Cheri Raffo answered with a three of her own on the next trip down the floor to push BU back in front by two, 56-54, with 1:40 left. Pilypaitis connected on a pair of free throws at the 1:25 mark to knot the game up for the third time in the final eight minutes, 56-56. BU's Aly Hinton's three-point attempt with five seconds left in regulation drew iron, but Poles was able to corral the rebound and the teams headed into overtime. After Burks-Wiley opened the extra session with a layup, Kotsopoulos answered with five straight points on a three-pointer and layup to again push Vermont in front by three, 61-58, at the 3:10 mark of overtime. The Terriers scored the next six points to pull out to a 64-61 lead with 1:34 left. Sy Janousek converted a layup to bring UVM back within one with 1:10 remaining. With 26 ticks on the clock, Kinneary fouled Amy Rosenkrantz, but she could only make one of two free throws to tie the game up at 64-64. Umez Eronini missed a layup with two seconds left and Poles was there again to clean up the rebound to force a second overtime. BU outscored Vermont 7-2 to open the second overtime and took a 71-66 lead with 2:07 left in the period. The Catamounts trimmed the lead to one on back-to-back three-pointers by Rosenkrantz to make the score 73-72 with 38 seconds left. Umez-Eronini made a layup to shove BU back in front by three with 18 seconds remaining. But with 12 seconds left Kasey Devine fouled Kotsopoulos and she sank both free throws to bring UVM back to within one, 75-74. Vermont immediately fouled Devine on the ensuing play, but she missed both free throws. The Catamounts had the ball in the final seconds, but Rosenkrantz was called for a charge driving to the basket with one second remaining and Kinneary, who drew the charge, made one of two free throws to seal the win for the Terriers. Rosenkrantz led Vermont with a team-high 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting. Pilypaitis added 17 points and 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Kostopoulos chipped in 16 points and Poles grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds for the Catamounts. WHAT'S THE WNIT |Website The Women's National Invitational Tournament was created in 1998. The annual tournament involves 48 of the nation's top Division I teams, which are selected by a committee after the NCAA has selected its field for its tournament. All games are hosted at campus sites of the participating schools and every round is single elimination. The 2008 Postseason WNIT will feature 16 first-round games, followed by 16 second-round games, eight third-round games, four quarterfinals games, two semifinal games and the championship game slated for April 5. VERMONT'S POSTSEASON HISTORY
1992 NCAA Tournament - First Round - East Regional - Washington, D.C.
March 18: #8 George Washington 70, #9 Vermont 69 - (at-large bid)
1993 NCAA Tournament - First Round - East Regional - Burlington, Vt.
March 17: #9 Rutgers 80, #8 Vermont 74 (at-large bid)
1994 NCAA Tournament - First Round - East Regional - South Orange, N.J.
March 16: #4 Seton Hall 70, #13 Vermont 60 (automatic bid)
2000 NCAA Tournament - First Round - Mideast Regional - Lubbock, Texas
March 18: #6 Tulane 65, #11 Vermon 60 (automatic bid)
2002 Postseason WNIT (32-team field - earned an at-large bid)
Vermont 70, Holy Cross 63 - First Round - Burlington, Vt.
Vermont 60, St. Joseph's (Pa.) 55 - Second Round - Burlington, Vt.
Virginia Tech 76, Vermont 48 - Quarterfinals - Blacksburg, Va.
ABOUT DARTMOUTH | Website
The Big Green stands at 15-15 on the year and is making their fourth straight postseason appearance, second consecutive in the WNIT. Dartmouth is the co-Ivy League Championships, marking the third time in four years the program has won the title and the 16th time overall. The Big Green enters the postseason having won 11 of the last 13 games. Junior Koren Schram, a first team All-Ivy selection this season, leads the team in scoring (11.4 ppg), and ranks second in the league in steals (2.15). She is also the top three-point threat for Dartmouth, draining a team-leading 66 three's this season. Freshman Brittney Smith, the 2008 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, leads the league in rebounding (8.2 rpg) and ranks seventh in scoring (11.8 ppg). Senior Sydney Scott earned the third All-Ivy award of her career, picking up honorable mention honors this season. She enters the postseason averaging 7.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. ALL-TIME SERIES
This is the first meeting between the two schools since Jan. 26, 2002 (in Hanover). The all-time series is all tied up at 12-12, but Vermont has won 10 of the last 12 meetings, including three straight. FAMILIAR FACE
Vermont head coach Sharon Dawley served as an assistant coach at Dartmouth from 1993-96 and was promoted to associate head coach in 1997 and stayed with the Big Green until 2003 before becoming a Catamount. During her decade long stint in Hanover, Dawley worked under Dartmouth head coach Chris Wielgus. This will mark the first meeting between the two coaches since Dawley left to take over at Vermont. Wielgus is in her 23rd season at Dartmouth. She owns a record of 344-247 at the school and has won 11 Ivy League titles during her tenure. FAMILIAR FACE PART 2
Current Dartmouth assistant coach Amy Mulligan, who is in her first year with the Big Green, played at Vermont from 1999-01. While at UVM she helped the Catamounts to an America East Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in her first season (1999-00). PILING UP THE POINTS
Courtnay Pilypaitis has poured in 944 points in 62 career games and enters the game 56 points shy of the 1,000-career point milestone. Five Vermont players rank among the unofficial "Quickest to 1,000" list kept by Austin Peay State University. The list contains the names and games played of all the players known to have scored 1,000 points in 100 games or fewer. Karalyn Church '00, UVM's all-time leading scorer, reached the milestone the fastest at Vermont - just 54 games. Ironically, Vermont's top three all-time leading scorers are Canadian and Pilypaitis is a native of Ottawa, Ontario. SOPHOMORE SLUMP???
As rookies last season May Kotsopoulos and Courtnay Pilypaitis made Vermont the only Division I team in the country to have two freshmen as the top two scorers on the team. Pilypaitis led Vermont with 13.7 points per game and Kotsopoulos ranked second, chipping in 10.9 points per game. This year, the duo are the top scoring sophomore combination in America East, combining to average 30.3 points per game. Pilypaitis is averaging 16.7 points per game and Kotsopoulos is chipping in 12.8 points per contest. DAWLEY EARNS WIN #200
Head Coach Sharon Dawley earned her 200th career victory (13 seasons as a head coach) with the 80-64 win over Harvard on Dec. 16. Dawley signed a four-year contract extension during the summer that will keep her on the UVM sidelines through the 2010-11 season. TRIPLE THREAT
Sophomore Courtnay Pilypaitis made UVM history for the second time this season. In a win over Hartford (Feb. 13), she recorded the first triple-double in Vermont women's basketball history with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. The triple-double by Pilypaitis is one of six in Division I women's basketball this season and the first in America East since Boston U's Adrienne Norris achieved the feat against UNH on Feb. 4, 2004. At Boston U on February 2, Pilypaitis matched the school's single-game scoring record, pouring in a career-high 40 points. FABULOUS FORTY
Courtnay Pilypaitis poured in a career-high 40 points against Boston U, tying the school record for most points in a game. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, she matched the mark set by former standout Sheri Turnbull '93, a native of Windsor, Ontario, on Dec. 21, 1993 against Harvard. Turnbull graduated as the all-time leading scorer (2,108 pts) and rebounder (1,056 reb) at Vermont, she currently ranks second in scoring. Her #30 is one of two women's basketball numbers to be retired. Pilypaitis' 40-point outburst is the first in America East since Boston U's Katie Meinhardt poured in 43 during the 2005 America East Tournament. CATAMOUNTS CLEAN UP AMERICA EAST HONORS
The Vermont Catamounts took home two major awards at the America East Women's Basketball Championship banquet. Sophomore Courtnay Pilypaitis was named the America East Player of the Year and classmate May Kotsopoulos was selected as the America East Defensive Player of the Year. Junior Amy Rosenkrantz picked up America East All-Conference Second Team honors. Pilypaitis, last season's unanimous choice for America East Rookie of the Year, becomes the second player in league history to earn rookie of the year honors as a freshman and player of the year honors as a sophomore. The only other player in conference history to achieve that feat is Cindy Blodgett, current head coach at Maine. She was named rookie of the year in 1995-96 and followed up with player of the year honors in 1996-97. Pilypaitis becomes the fifth Catamount to win America East Player of the Year honors and the first since Karalyn Church '00 garnered the award in 1999-00. She is the fourth sophomore in league history, and the third at Vermont, to earn America East Player of the Year honors. Former Catmount standouts Church and Joann McKay '88 (1985-86) also earned the honor as sophomores at Vermont. Pilypaitis was a unanimous selection to the preseason all-conference team and the only underclassmen on the squad. She lived up to expectations, earning America East Player of the Week honors six times during the regular season, including three straight weeks. She is one of three players in league history to earn player of the week honors three consecutive weeks and six times overall in a single season. Pilypaitis, who was also a unanimous choice for all-conference first team honors and ranks among the league's top-10 in 9-of-10 statistical categories. She leads Vermont in scoring (16.7 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg), assists (5.5), free throw percentage (.833), free throws made (145) and three-point field goals made (58). Kotsopoulos becomes the first Vermont player to earn America East Defensive Player of the Year honors since the award's inception in 2005-06. She was the first Catamount to earn a spot on the all-defensive team last season and was a unanimous repeat selection to the squad this year. She also earned a spot on the America East All-Conference Second Team in 2007-08. The 5-10 guard leads the league in steals (2.15) and ranks among the league leaders in four other categories. Kotsopoulos ranks third on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg) and is one of three Catamounts among the top-10 conference scoring leaders. Rosenkrantz garners the first all-conference honor of her career with a spot on the second team. She ranks second on the team and fourth in America East in scoring (13.0 ppg) and joins Pilypaitis and Kotsopoulos in the top-10 in scoring leaders in the conference. Kotsopoulos and Rosenkrantz were also named to the America East All-Academic Team. The two Catamounts had the highest GPA of the five players named to the team. Kotsopoulos and Rosenkrantz, both business administration majors, own cumulative GPA's of 3.54 and 3.38, respectively. SWEET 70
Vermont owns a record of 67-14 when it scores 70 points or more dating back to the 2001-02 season. UVM reached the 70-point plateau 13 times in 2006-07, going 10-3 in those games. Vermont is 10-2 this season when scoring 70 or more points. TOUGH D
Vermont has held opponents to under 65 points in 22 of 23 wins this season (Hartford scored 66 pts). Vermont ranks second in America East in scoring defense (58.9 ppg), ranks second in field goal percentage defense (.385), and fourth in three-point field goal percentage defense (.385). TOTAL OFFENSE
Sophomore Courtnay Pilypaitis accounts for 43.8 percent of Vermont's offense. The 6-1 guard leads the team in scoring (17.1 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg) and assists (5.5 pg). SARA STARTS
Senior guard Sara Fenton's role on the team is more defensive minded than offensive. Fenton has started the last 11 games and Vermont is 10-1 this season when she is in the starting five. Fenton ranks ninth among America East leaders in assists (2.25). POLES POSITION
Junior Kelli Poles has earned a start in the last nine games. As a started, Poles is averaging 7.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and shooting 52.0 percent from the floor. She gave up her starting spot for senior Nicole Trott on "Senior Day" (March 8) vs. Binghamton ASSISTING A WIN Vermont is 9-1 when it hands out 20 assists or more in a game dating back to last season. UVM is 6-1 this season (W, Kent State-22; W, Harvard-20; L, Ball State-20; W, Colgate-23; W, UMBC-23; W, Maine-23; W, UNH-20). Vermont leads America East in assists (15.96). AUTOMATIC
Courtnay Pilypaitis made her first five free throws in the win over Binghamton in the regular season finale to set a new school record for most consecutive free throws. She connected on 27 straight over four games from Feb. 23-March 8. Her string of free throws included a 12-for-12 effort against Boston University. Pilypaitis broke the mark of 23 straight free throws set by Morgan Hall '03 during the 2002-03 season. DAWLEY THIRD AMONG UVM WINNINGEST COACHES
With the victory over Maine on Jan. 26, Vermont head coach Sharon Dawley passed former Catamount head coach Pam Borton, now the head coach at Minnesota, to move into third among the all-time winningest coaches at Vermont. Dawley owns a career record of 79-66 at Vermont and trails former coached Cathy Inglese (120 wins), the current head coach at Boston College, and Keith Cieplicki (127 wins). STEALING THE SHOW
May Kotsopoulos leads America East in steals (2.15 pg). She collected a career-high six steals in the victory at New Hampshire. Vermont ranks third as a team in steals (9.07). The Catamounts totaled a season-high 17 steals in the win over the Wildcats. BLOCK PARTY
Vermont has recorded 17 blocks in the last four games. Junior Andrea Cihal leads the team in blocks with 29 this season and has 70 career rejections, ranking 11th among the Catamounts' all-time leaders. ROSENKRANTZ RISING
Amy Rosenkrantz has scored 20 or more points seven times this season. UVM is 7-2 all-time in games in which she reaches the 20-point plateau. She ranks second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and has increased her offensive production this season after averaging 8.6 points per game as a sophomore. Rosenkrantz scored a team-high 21 points in the double-overtime loss to Boston U in the America East Semifinals. STREAKING
Courtnay Pilypaitis has reached double figures in 30 of 31 games this season and 29 straight, the second longest streak in a single-season and the third longest streak all-time at Vermont. OH CANADA!
Vermont has a rich tradition of attracting the best players from Canada to the program. This season UVM has five Canadian natives on the roster - Andrea Cihal (Calgary, Alberta), Chelsea Kane (Ingersoll, Ontario), May Kotsopoulos (Waterloo, Ontario), Courtnay Pilypaitis (Orleans, Ontario), Nicole Trott (Wasaga Beach, Ontario). Vermont's all-time leading scorer (Karalyn Church - Guelph, Ontario), all-time leading rebounder (Sheri Turnbull - Windsor, Ontario) and all-time assists and three-point field goals leader (Lori Taylor - Markham, Ontario) are all Canadian natives. The University of Vermont is located 90 minutes from Montreal, Quebec. THINK PINK
When Vermont hosted Stony Brook on Feb. 10, the Catamounts put aside their green & gold uniforms and donned pink ones in support of the WBCA's "Think Pink" program to help raise breast cancer awareness. Overall, Vermont helped raise over $3,500 that went directly to the Vermont Cancer Center. TERRIFIC TRIO
The Catamounts boast three players among America East's top six scoring leaders. Courtnay Pilypaitis ranks second, averaging a team-best 16.7 points. Amy Rosenkrantz ranks fifth overall in the league (13.2ppg) and second on the team and May Kotsopoulos ranks sixth overall (12.3 ppg) and third on the Catamounts squad in scoring. WHO'S NEXT
The winner of the Vermont/Dartmouth game will take on Boston College in Boston, Mass. on Monday (March 24) at 7:00pm.
Game Notes (.pdf) | Championship Central
Vermont, the 2008 America East women's basketball regular season runners-up, hosts Dartmouth in the first round of the 2008 Postseason WNIT on Thursday at 7:00pm at Patrick Gymnasium. The game will be broadcast on WVMT-620 AM and on the Internet at SportsJuice.com. Live video of the game will also be streamed over the Internet on a pay-per-view basis ($6) via B2 Networks. This is the second time, first since 2002, that the Catamounts have hosted a WNIT game at Patrick Gymnasium. Vermont advanced to the quarterfinals with a pair of wins in the 2002 WNIT. The Catamounts enter the game with a record of 23-8. Dartmouth earned an automatic bid to the WNIT and is representing the Ivy League. Dartmouth, Harvard and Cornell shared the Ivy League Regular Season title three ways and had a two-game playoff to decide which team would represent the league in the NCAA Tournament. Dartmouth defeated Harvard, 68-62, last Friday, but fell to Cornell on Sunday, 64-47. The Big Red earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament with the win and Dartmouth was selected to the WNIT. LAST TIME OUT - Boston U 76, Vermont 74 (2ot) | Box Score
No. 2 Vermont and No. 3 Boston University battled for 50 minutes in the first-ever double-overtime game in America East Women's Basketball Championship history, but the Terriers came away with a 76-74 victory in the semifinals contest. Vermont started the game 3-16 from the field and turned the ball over 12 times in the opening half to allow the Terriers to take a 10 point lead, 20-10, with 7:44 remaining in the stanza. The Catamount trimmed the lead to four on a jumper by Courtnay Pilypaitis at the 2:44 mark, but closed the half with an 8-2 spurt, all eight points coming from Pilypaitis, to take a 31-22 lead into halftime. Vermont shot 28 percent from the floor, while Boston U went 12-for-29 (41.4%) from the field in the half. The Catamounts started the second half with a 16-2 run erase the deficit and took their first lead of the game, 34-33, on a pair of free throws by May Kotsopoulos at the 14:55 mark. UVM pushed its lead to five on a layup by Kotsopoulos and a jumper by Kelli Poles at the 11:20 mark. The Terriers fought back and tied the game up, 45-45, on a pair of free throws by Amarac Umez-Eronini at the 7:17 mark. The Catamounts responded with six straight points to pull ahead 51-45, with 4:21 left in regulation. Boston U tied the game up again at the 3:33 mark on a pair of free throws from Christine Kinneary and took a two point lead, 53-51, on free throws by Jesyka Burks-Wiley at the 3:20 mark. Pilypaitis drained a three-pointer with 2:06 showing to shove Vermont in front by one, 54-53, but Cheri Raffo answered with a three of her own on the next trip down the floor to push BU back in front by two, 56-54, with 1:40 left. Pilypaitis connected on a pair of free throws at the 1:25 mark to knot the game up for the third time in the final eight minutes, 56-56. BU's Aly Hinton's three-point attempt with five seconds left in regulation drew iron, but Poles was able to corral the rebound and the teams headed into overtime. After Burks-Wiley opened the extra session with a layup, Kotsopoulos answered with five straight points on a three-pointer and layup to again push Vermont in front by three, 61-58, at the 3:10 mark of overtime. The Terriers scored the next six points to pull out to a 64-61 lead with 1:34 left. Sy Janousek converted a layup to bring UVM back within one with 1:10 remaining. With 26 ticks on the clock, Kinneary fouled Amy Rosenkrantz, but she could only make one of two free throws to tie the game up at 64-64. Umez Eronini missed a layup with two seconds left and Poles was there again to clean up the rebound to force a second overtime. BU outscored Vermont 7-2 to open the second overtime and took a 71-66 lead with 2:07 left in the period. The Catamounts trimmed the lead to one on back-to-back three-pointers by Rosenkrantz to make the score 73-72 with 38 seconds left. Umez-Eronini made a layup to shove BU back in front by three with 18 seconds remaining. But with 12 seconds left Kasey Devine fouled Kotsopoulos and she sank both free throws to bring UVM back to within one, 75-74. Vermont immediately fouled Devine on the ensuing play, but she missed both free throws. The Catamounts had the ball in the final seconds, but Rosenkrantz was called for a charge driving to the basket with one second remaining and Kinneary, who drew the charge, made one of two free throws to seal the win for the Terriers. Rosenkrantz led Vermont with a team-high 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting. Pilypaitis added 17 points and 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Kostopoulos chipped in 16 points and Poles grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds for the Catamounts. WHAT'S THE WNIT |Website The Women's National Invitational Tournament was created in 1998. The annual tournament involves 48 of the nation's top Division I teams, which are selected by a committee after the NCAA has selected its field for its tournament. All games are hosted at campus sites of the participating schools and every round is single elimination. The 2008 Postseason WNIT will feature 16 first-round games, followed by 16 second-round games, eight third-round games, four quarterfinals games, two semifinal games and the championship game slated for April 5. VERMONT'S POSTSEASON HISTORY
1992 NCAA Tournament - First Round - East Regional - Washington, D.C.
March 18: #8 George Washington 70, #9 Vermont 69 - (at-large bid)
1993 NCAA Tournament - First Round - East Regional - Burlington, Vt.
March 17: #9 Rutgers 80, #8 Vermont 74 (at-large bid)
1994 NCAA Tournament - First Round - East Regional - South Orange, N.J.
March 16: #4 Seton Hall 70, #13 Vermont 60 (automatic bid)
2000 NCAA Tournament - First Round - Mideast Regional - Lubbock, Texas
March 18: #6 Tulane 65, #11 Vermon 60 (automatic bid)
2002 Postseason WNIT (32-team field - earned an at-large bid)
Vermont 70, Holy Cross 63 - First Round - Burlington, Vt.
Vermont 60, St. Joseph's (Pa.) 55 - Second Round - Burlington, Vt.
Virginia Tech 76, Vermont 48 - Quarterfinals - Blacksburg, Va.
ABOUT DARTMOUTH | Website
The Big Green stands at 15-15 on the year and is making their fourth straight postseason appearance, second consecutive in the WNIT. Dartmouth is the co-Ivy League Championships, marking the third time in four years the program has won the title and the 16th time overall. The Big Green enters the postseason having won 11 of the last 13 games. Junior Koren Schram, a first team All-Ivy selection this season, leads the team in scoring (11.4 ppg), and ranks second in the league in steals (2.15). She is also the top three-point threat for Dartmouth, draining a team-leading 66 three's this season. Freshman Brittney Smith, the 2008 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, leads the league in rebounding (8.2 rpg) and ranks seventh in scoring (11.8 ppg). Senior Sydney Scott earned the third All-Ivy award of her career, picking up honorable mention honors this season. She enters the postseason averaging 7.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. ALL-TIME SERIES
This is the first meeting between the two schools since Jan. 26, 2002 (in Hanover). The all-time series is all tied up at 12-12, but Vermont has won 10 of the last 12 meetings, including three straight. FAMILIAR FACE
Vermont head coach Sharon Dawley served as an assistant coach at Dartmouth from 1993-96 and was promoted to associate head coach in 1997 and stayed with the Big Green until 2003 before becoming a Catamount. During her decade long stint in Hanover, Dawley worked under Dartmouth head coach Chris Wielgus. This will mark the first meeting between the two coaches since Dawley left to take over at Vermont. Wielgus is in her 23rd season at Dartmouth. She owns a record of 344-247 at the school and has won 11 Ivy League titles during her tenure. FAMILIAR FACE PART 2
Current Dartmouth assistant coach Amy Mulligan, who is in her first year with the Big Green, played at Vermont from 1999-01. While at UVM she helped the Catamounts to an America East Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in her first season (1999-00). PILING UP THE POINTS
Courtnay Pilypaitis has poured in 944 points in 62 career games and enters the game 56 points shy of the 1,000-career point milestone. Five Vermont players rank among the unofficial "Quickest to 1,000" list kept by Austin Peay State University. The list contains the names and games played of all the players known to have scored 1,000 points in 100 games or fewer. Karalyn Church '00, UVM's all-time leading scorer, reached the milestone the fastest at Vermont - just 54 games. Ironically, Vermont's top three all-time leading scorers are Canadian and Pilypaitis is a native of Ottawa, Ontario. SOPHOMORE SLUMP???
As rookies last season May Kotsopoulos and Courtnay Pilypaitis made Vermont the only Division I team in the country to have two freshmen as the top two scorers on the team. Pilypaitis led Vermont with 13.7 points per game and Kotsopoulos ranked second, chipping in 10.9 points per game. This year, the duo are the top scoring sophomore combination in America East, combining to average 30.3 points per game. Pilypaitis is averaging 16.7 points per game and Kotsopoulos is chipping in 12.8 points per contest. DAWLEY EARNS WIN #200
Head Coach Sharon Dawley earned her 200th career victory (13 seasons as a head coach) with the 80-64 win over Harvard on Dec. 16. Dawley signed a four-year contract extension during the summer that will keep her on the UVM sidelines through the 2010-11 season. TRIPLE THREAT
Sophomore Courtnay Pilypaitis made UVM history for the second time this season. In a win over Hartford (Feb. 13), she recorded the first triple-double in Vermont women's basketball history with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. The triple-double by Pilypaitis is one of six in Division I women's basketball this season and the first in America East since Boston U's Adrienne Norris achieved the feat against UNH on Feb. 4, 2004. At Boston U on February 2, Pilypaitis matched the school's single-game scoring record, pouring in a career-high 40 points. FABULOUS FORTY
Courtnay Pilypaitis poured in a career-high 40 points against Boston U, tying the school record for most points in a game. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, she matched the mark set by former standout Sheri Turnbull '93, a native of Windsor, Ontario, on Dec. 21, 1993 against Harvard. Turnbull graduated as the all-time leading scorer (2,108 pts) and rebounder (1,056 reb) at Vermont, she currently ranks second in scoring. Her #30 is one of two women's basketball numbers to be retired. Pilypaitis' 40-point outburst is the first in America East since Boston U's Katie Meinhardt poured in 43 during the 2005 America East Tournament. CATAMOUNTS CLEAN UP AMERICA EAST HONORS
The Vermont Catamounts took home two major awards at the America East Women's Basketball Championship banquet. Sophomore Courtnay Pilypaitis was named the America East Player of the Year and classmate May Kotsopoulos was selected as the America East Defensive Player of the Year. Junior Amy Rosenkrantz picked up America East All-Conference Second Team honors. Pilypaitis, last season's unanimous choice for America East Rookie of the Year, becomes the second player in league history to earn rookie of the year honors as a freshman and player of the year honors as a sophomore. The only other player in conference history to achieve that feat is Cindy Blodgett, current head coach at Maine. She was named rookie of the year in 1995-96 and followed up with player of the year honors in 1996-97. Pilypaitis becomes the fifth Catamount to win America East Player of the Year honors and the first since Karalyn Church '00 garnered the award in 1999-00. She is the fourth sophomore in league history, and the third at Vermont, to earn America East Player of the Year honors. Former Catmount standouts Church and Joann McKay '88 (1985-86) also earned the honor as sophomores at Vermont. Pilypaitis was a unanimous selection to the preseason all-conference team and the only underclassmen on the squad. She lived up to expectations, earning America East Player of the Week honors six times during the regular season, including three straight weeks. She is one of three players in league history to earn player of the week honors three consecutive weeks and six times overall in a single season. Pilypaitis, who was also a unanimous choice for all-conference first team honors and ranks among the league's top-10 in 9-of-10 statistical categories. She leads Vermont in scoring (16.7 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg), assists (5.5), free throw percentage (.833), free throws made (145) and three-point field goals made (58). Kotsopoulos becomes the first Vermont player to earn America East Defensive Player of the Year honors since the award's inception in 2005-06. She was the first Catamount to earn a spot on the all-defensive team last season and was a unanimous repeat selection to the squad this year. She also earned a spot on the America East All-Conference Second Team in 2007-08. The 5-10 guard leads the league in steals (2.15) and ranks among the league leaders in four other categories. Kotsopoulos ranks third on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg) and is one of three Catamounts among the top-10 conference scoring leaders. Rosenkrantz garners the first all-conference honor of her career with a spot on the second team. She ranks second on the team and fourth in America East in scoring (13.0 ppg) and joins Pilypaitis and Kotsopoulos in the top-10 in scoring leaders in the conference. Kotsopoulos and Rosenkrantz were also named to the America East All-Academic Team. The two Catamounts had the highest GPA of the five players named to the team. Kotsopoulos and Rosenkrantz, both business administration majors, own cumulative GPA's of 3.54 and 3.38, respectively. SWEET 70
Vermont owns a record of 67-14 when it scores 70 points or more dating back to the 2001-02 season. UVM reached the 70-point plateau 13 times in 2006-07, going 10-3 in those games. Vermont is 10-2 this season when scoring 70 or more points. TOUGH D
Vermont has held opponents to under 65 points in 22 of 23 wins this season (Hartford scored 66 pts). Vermont ranks second in America East in scoring defense (58.9 ppg), ranks second in field goal percentage defense (.385), and fourth in three-point field goal percentage defense (.385). TOTAL OFFENSE
Sophomore Courtnay Pilypaitis accounts for 43.8 percent of Vermont's offense. The 6-1 guard leads the team in scoring (17.1 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg) and assists (5.5 pg). SARA STARTS
Senior guard Sara Fenton's role on the team is more defensive minded than offensive. Fenton has started the last 11 games and Vermont is 10-1 this season when she is in the starting five. Fenton ranks ninth among America East leaders in assists (2.25). POLES POSITION
Junior Kelli Poles has earned a start in the last nine games. As a started, Poles is averaging 7.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and shooting 52.0 percent from the floor. She gave up her starting spot for senior Nicole Trott on "Senior Day" (March 8) vs. Binghamton ASSISTING A WIN Vermont is 9-1 when it hands out 20 assists or more in a game dating back to last season. UVM is 6-1 this season (W, Kent State-22; W, Harvard-20; L, Ball State-20; W, Colgate-23; W, UMBC-23; W, Maine-23; W, UNH-20). Vermont leads America East in assists (15.96). AUTOMATIC
Courtnay Pilypaitis made her first five free throws in the win over Binghamton in the regular season finale to set a new school record for most consecutive free throws. She connected on 27 straight over four games from Feb. 23-March 8. Her string of free throws included a 12-for-12 effort against Boston University. Pilypaitis broke the mark of 23 straight free throws set by Morgan Hall '03 during the 2002-03 season. DAWLEY THIRD AMONG UVM WINNINGEST COACHES
With the victory over Maine on Jan. 26, Vermont head coach Sharon Dawley passed former Catamount head coach Pam Borton, now the head coach at Minnesota, to move into third among the all-time winningest coaches at Vermont. Dawley owns a career record of 79-66 at Vermont and trails former coached Cathy Inglese (120 wins), the current head coach at Boston College, and Keith Cieplicki (127 wins). STEALING THE SHOW
May Kotsopoulos leads America East in steals (2.15 pg). She collected a career-high six steals in the victory at New Hampshire. Vermont ranks third as a team in steals (9.07). The Catamounts totaled a season-high 17 steals in the win over the Wildcats. BLOCK PARTY
Vermont has recorded 17 blocks in the last four games. Junior Andrea Cihal leads the team in blocks with 29 this season and has 70 career rejections, ranking 11th among the Catamounts' all-time leaders. ROSENKRANTZ RISING
Amy Rosenkrantz has scored 20 or more points seven times this season. UVM is 7-2 all-time in games in which she reaches the 20-point plateau. She ranks second on the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and has increased her offensive production this season after averaging 8.6 points per game as a sophomore. Rosenkrantz scored a team-high 21 points in the double-overtime loss to Boston U in the America East Semifinals. STREAKING
Courtnay Pilypaitis has reached double figures in 30 of 31 games this season and 29 straight, the second longest streak in a single-season and the third longest streak all-time at Vermont. OH CANADA!
Vermont has a rich tradition of attracting the best players from Canada to the program. This season UVM has five Canadian natives on the roster - Andrea Cihal (Calgary, Alberta), Chelsea Kane (Ingersoll, Ontario), May Kotsopoulos (Waterloo, Ontario), Courtnay Pilypaitis (Orleans, Ontario), Nicole Trott (Wasaga Beach, Ontario). Vermont's all-time leading scorer (Karalyn Church - Guelph, Ontario), all-time leading rebounder (Sheri Turnbull - Windsor, Ontario) and all-time assists and three-point field goals leader (Lori Taylor - Markham, Ontario) are all Canadian natives. The University of Vermont is located 90 minutes from Montreal, Quebec. THINK PINK
When Vermont hosted Stony Brook on Feb. 10, the Catamounts put aside their green & gold uniforms and donned pink ones in support of the WBCA's "Think Pink" program to help raise breast cancer awareness. Overall, Vermont helped raise over $3,500 that went directly to the Vermont Cancer Center. TERRIFIC TRIO
The Catamounts boast three players among America East's top six scoring leaders. Courtnay Pilypaitis ranks second, averaging a team-best 16.7 points. Amy Rosenkrantz ranks fifth overall in the league (13.2ppg) and second on the team and May Kotsopoulos ranks sixth overall (12.3 ppg) and third on the Catamounts squad in scoring. WHO'S NEXT
The winner of the Vermont/Dartmouth game will take on Boston College in Boston, Mass. on Monday (March 24) at 7:00pm.