UVM women’s basketball set an all-time scoring and differential record against the Dean College Bulldogs on Nov. 4, with 137 points — 106 over the Bulldogs.
Head coach Alisa Kresge was calculated with each minute of Vermont’s first regular season game against the Division II program, giving all 13 of her available players time on the court.
In return, 73 of Vermont’s points came off of the bench.
Double-digit contributions from nine players suggests a well-rounded roster, with underclassmen making memorable first impressions as Kresge decides on her go-to rotation.
Kresge brought two redshirt senior transfers to Catamount Country this season — forward Annemarie Batistia and guard Jadyn Weltz — and five first-years — guards Jacklynn Hosier, Maren Maxon, Lia Hanson and Christiana Gordon, and forward Madison Hall.
Vermont maintains an enticing women’s basketball program, which most recently competed in the first round of the 2025 NCAA March Madness tournament and claimed two of its last three contests for the America East Conference title.
The Cats’ 16-0 lead over Dean from the jump steadily grew all game, not once changing hands to the Bulldogs. Swarmed on their possessions, Dean had minimal time in the paint for close-range shots.
On the other end, senior center Nikola Priede put up all 20 of her points within the arc, shooting 83% for Vermont’s most baskets this game.
By halftime, the Cats had over 50 points on the Bulldogs, but were cautious not to let up.
“Even if we’re up by a bunch, we still just need to focus on the fundamentals,” sophomore forward Savanna Creal said.
With 17 points and 7 rebounds, Creal had a statement first showing at Patrick Gym after a first-year season without any appearances.
“We have a lot of talent on this team. They’re all fighting for minutes, so I think they’re trying to show what they’re capable of no matter who we’re playing,” coach Kresge said.
Vermont kept Dean to seven points in the third quarter and put up 42, a single quarter record. The Cats’ 21 steals kept the ball flowing to their scorers.
“We definitely have some pieces on our bench that we’re going to have to go into and we’re going to need them to be sophomores quickly — so skip freshman year and be sophomores in the heat of big games,” Kresge said after the win.
Gordon and Hanson did just that, making nearly every shot taken. They accumulated two three-pointers each and only missed one basket out of their combined 10 shots from the field. In just seven minutes off the bench, Gordon claimed 11 points.
Vermont hosts Division II Saint Anselm College on Nov. 8 at noon, and plans to deploy the same relentlessness no matter what team takes formation across the half.
“Saint An’s is a really talented team,” Kresge said. “The challenge is making sure that we understand we’re walking into this game and it could be anybody’s game.”
