Women’s Hoops: Stony Brook Rallies Past Vermont in America East Quarterfinal

Posted on by George Commo

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

STONY BROOK, NY. — Hanna Crymble had 28 points to lead Vermont but it wasn’t enough as Stony Brook’s Shania Johnson set an America East record with 16 assists to lead the Seawolves to the America East Semifinals with a 69-58 win Wednesday night at Island Federal Arena.

COACH’S QUOTE
“We wanted this one in the worst way for our seniors and program, it’s unfortunate we couldn’t get it,” said head coach Alisa Kresge. “I’m extremely proud of this team for all their hard work and fight they’ve shown all season long. It’s tough to see seniors’ college careers come to an end but they’ve made a great impact on this program and it’s future and we can’t thank them enough.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Stony Brook’s India Pagan scored the first four points of the game, but the Catamounts quickly responded with a 9-0 run fueled by five points from Hanna Crymble. The Catamounts held a 13-12 edge after the opening frame.
The Catamounts scored 20 points in the second quarter extending their lead over the Seawolves. Crymble had 17 first half points. Rose Caverly hit a jumper with 25 seconds left in the half to give UVM a six-point cushion at halftime.
In the third quarter the Seawolves stormed back led by a barrage of three-point shooting. Stony Brook was five-for-five in the frame from downtown. After being held to a single point in the first half, Shania Johnson, the Seawolves leading scorer, had 11 points in the third quarter as Stony Brook used a 13-2 run to carry a 55-48 lead into the final frame.
A 6-0 run from the Catamounts cut the Seawolves lead to six with just over four minutes left but Vermont couldn’t get any closer in the final minutes. Johnson found Jerell Matthews for a three-pointer with 2:12 left to put the game away. Johnson’s assist on the play set a new single-game America East record.

INSIDE THE GAME
Seniors Candice Wright, Courtney Wright and Lauren Handy played their final games in a Vermont uniform Wednesday night.
Candice Wright had one block this evening, she finishes the year with 82, a program record. The 82 make it 223 in her career, third best all-time in America East and another program record.
Assistant Coach Dominique Bryant served as Acting Head Coach Wednesday night with Alisa Kresge under the weather.
America East All-Rookie Team selection Rose Caverly had 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and zero turnovers in one of her most complete games of the season.
The Catamounts close out the 2018-19 campaign with a final record of 11-18. The 11 wins are the most by Vermont in a single-season since 2009-10.
With 11 wins Coach Kresge enjoyed the best debut season for a new head coach at UVM since Sharon Dawley won 14 in 2003-04.
Vermont is now 1-4 all-time as the six-seed in the America East Tournament and 2-6 in true road games.