Burlington, VT ? The Vermont Catamounts used the momentum of Sy Janousek's three-pointers to lift them to a 66-64 overtime victory in a barnburner in front of 825 on Wednesday night. With the loss the Hawks dropped to 9-7 overall and 2-1 in conference play while the Catamounts improved to 12-3 overall and 2-0 in the America East.
“Vermont played a tough game with a lot of intensity tonight,” said head coach Jennifer Rizzotti. “Tonight's game shows the importance of every possession down the stretch, and we made a couple of mental mistakes that we can't. Vermont is a very balanced team and plays with a lot of confidence.”
Janousek, Vermont's America East Player of the Game, finished with 13 points, missing only one three-pointer with four makes in the second half alone to lead the Catamounts. Danielle Hood was named Hartford's America East Player of the Game with a season best 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting, leading all scorers in the game. Hartford shot 49.1 percent for the game (28-of-57), and joining Hood in double digits was Ikea Witt with 12.
Vermont capitalized on 13 second half offensive rebounds to take home a 47-34 advantage on the boards. The Catamounts finished the game shooting 34.7 percent (25-of-72). Joining Janousek in double figures was Courtnay Pilypaitis with 16 and Amy Rosenkrantz with 10.
The Hawks took a three-point advantage (35-32) into the break after trailing by as much as seven in the first half. The Catamounts scored 30 of their first half points in the first 13 minutes of the stanza, with Hartford holding them to only two points in the final seven minutes and using an 8-0 run to take the lead. The Hawks finished the first half shooting 54.8 percent (17-of-31) and were led by Witt's 12 points.
The Hawks also finished with a two rebound advantage (19-17) with MaryLynne Schaefer and Katie Kelley leading the team with four each. Hartford held the Catamounts to 38.2 percent (13-of-34) shooting in the first half, as Andrea Cihal led the team with eight points. The Catamounts did excel at the free throw line where they were 4-of-4 in the first half.
Hartford opened the second half by extending their half-ending lead to 40-32 on a three-pointer from Schaefer and a layup from Hood. But the Catamounts used a line change to regroup and scored five-straight off a pair of turnovers to pull back within three 40-37 with just over 16 minutes to play.
Janousek was the Catamounts key to staying close in the second half with four three pointers, the fourth coming with five minutes to play and pulling Vermont within one at 54-53. A pair of free throws for May Kotsopoulous gave the Catamounts a one-point lead before the Hawks defense led to back-to-back baskets from Schaefer and Hood, allowing the Hawks to take a 58-55 lead with two minutes left in regulation.
A free throw from Kelli Poles with 1:48 to go and a driving layup from Brittney Cross led to a tie ball game with 28 seconds to play. Hood drove to the basket and had her shot half way down the net before it bounced out, leading to the Hawks' second overtime game of the season.
Hartford opened the extra period with the first basket and then allowed a pair of scores from Pilypaitis and Poles, opening a 62-60 advantage for Vermont. Hartford then brought it within one with a free throw from Schaefer but the Catamounts capitalized with a Pilypaitis layup and a Rosenkranz free throw with seven seconds remaining, taking a 65-61 advantage. Schaefer connected on a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds to play and the Hawks quickly fouled, and the Catamounts only made one free throw. Hartford's baseball style pass on the ensuing inbounds play was tipped and the clock expired as the Catamounts celebrated the victory.
The Hawks will next play on Wednesday, January 17 when they host UMBC at 7:00 p.m.
