Live updates: Vermont vs. UConn in NCAA Tournament first-round game
Early details: UConn overwhelms Vermont for 95-52 victory
The University of Vermont women's basketball team can be the first 15 seed to beat a two when the Catamounts face Connecticut on Saturday at Storrs.
They face longs odds but the Catamounts (25-6) are on a 17-game win streak and playing their best basketball of late. UConn has reached 14 straight Final Fours, but hasn't won a national title since 2016.
More:March Madness: Coverage of UVM basketball teams in the 2023 NCAA Tournament
This is the seventh NCAA Tournament appearance for Vermont and first since 2010 when UVM beat Wisconsin in the first round.
LIVE UPDATES FROM UVM'S NCAA TOURNEY GAME
Final: UConn 95, Vermont 52
The Huskies leads wire to wire to steamroll the Catamounts, who made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 years.
Edwards (28 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks), Juhasz (15 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks) dominate inside to send the Catamounts packing.
Gilwee (14 points, 5 assists), Utterback (13 points, 4 assists) and Myklebust (13 points) led Vermont in the scoring column. Gilwee, the Vermont native, made a game-high four 3s.
America East champion Vermont, which entered on a 17-game winning streak, finishes the 2022-23 season with a 25-7 record. UConn, the Big East champ, moves to 30-5.
Game story:UConn overwhelms UVM women's basketball in NCAA Tournament
End of third quarter: UConn 75, Vermont 41
Edwards missed her first shot, but the UConn power forward is up to 26 points (12 of 13), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
Juhasz, another UConn forward, has 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting, to go with 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks.
Utterback (13 points) and Gilwee (11) pace Vermont.
Bank is open for Gilwee, again
Gilwee has a trio of 3-pointers this afternoon, with two of them getting the fortunate bounce off the glass.
Her latest trey from straightaway makes it 66-34 UCOnn with 4:08 to play in the third quarter.
Gilwee has a team-high 11 points and 4 assists.
Ducharme nails transition 3-pointer for UConn
Ducharme takes transition pass from Muhl on the wing and steps into triple to make it 64-31 UConn with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
Edwards still hasn't missed from the floor (10 of 10), with if she makes her next field-goal attempt will tie the NCAA Tournament record, according to the ABC telecast.
Utterback, Gilwee drained back-to-back 3s
Utterback and Gilwee knock down 3s on successive Vermont trips.
But UConn has 59-26 lead with 7 minutes to play in third.
Halftime: UConn 53, Vermont 20
As expected, the Huskies were overpowering in all facets during the opening 20 minutes.
From its press and rebounding to its shotmaking and balance, UConn was relentless and nearly flawless in the first half.
Edwards actually was flawless for UConn: 8 of 8 from the floor for 18 points, to go with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Lopez Senechal and Juhasz each had 9 points as the Huskies shot 66.7% from the field.
For Vermont, Myklebust led the way with 8 points. Vermont shot 8 of 29 from the floor.
Other key first-half stats: UConn owned the glass (22-7), picked up 14 assists and committed just 2 fouls. Vermont fouled 11 times and turned it over 9 times.
Huskies building big lead in second quarter
Gilwee ended a UVM scoring drought with a banked 3-pointer and Myklebust followed with her second triple. But the Huskies are in control, opening 38-18 margin with 5:49 until the halftime break.
UConn is up to 70% from the floor
End of first quarter: UConn 27, Vermont 12
The two-seeded Huskies race out to the early advantage thanks to full-court pressure, good rebounding and ball-sharing.
Edwards went 5 of 5 from the floor in the opening 10 minutes to tally 12 points while handing 3 assists. UConn made 9 of 14 shots (to UVM's 5 of 13), totaled 8 assists and gained a 9-3 edge on the glass.
The Catamounts also committed 5 turnovers. UConn went 7-for-8 at the foul line.
For Vermont, Myklebust has five points and Gilwee and Utterback each supplied two assists.
Edwards taking control for UConn
Edwards pours in long jumper following back-to-back offensive rebounds by the Huskies. Then after a steal, Edwards goes the other way for a three-point play.
Richason and Dizon already with two fouls, too, for Vermont.
UConn pushes to 18-7 advantage with under three minutes to play in first quarter.
Catamounts hanging tough after UConn's early surge
The Huskies scored on the game's first possession and got an Edwards' three-point play on a putback to open a 10-2 lead. But the Catamounts put together a couple nice offensive trips: Gilwee flipped a bounce pass to Dizon on a slip screen for an open layup and Myklebust buried a wing 3-pointer.
UConn leads 13-7 with 3:57 left in the first quarter.
Starters for Vermont
Bella Vito, Catherine Gilwee, Anna Olson, Emma Utterback and Delaney Richason start for the Catamounts for the program's first NCAA Tournament game in 13 years.
It's been the same starting five for every game except senior day.
TV, radio, stream information
Teams: (15) Vermont vs. (2) Connecticut
Site: Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut
Date: Saturday, March 18
Tip-off: 3 p.m. eastern (approx.)
TV: ABC
Stream: ESPN3
Contact Jacob Rousseau at JRousseau@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter: @ByJacobRousseau
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Live updates: Vermont vs. UConn in NCAA Tournament first-round game
