Kaeti Butterfield had a game high 27 points to help the University of Maine-Augusta women’s basketball team to a 72-62 win at Vermont Tech in Randolph, Vermont Friday afternoon in Yankee Small College Conference play.
UMA (9-4, 7-3 YSCC) led most of the first quarter, building their advantage to six at 13-7 on a Madeline Suhr layup. The home Green Knights would surge into the lead briefly when Hayley Mears capped off a 8-0 run with two free throws to make it 15-13. The teams were tied 15-15 after the opening 10 minutes. The Moose took their final lead of the first half on a Hope Butler layup 1:23 into the second quarter. Vermont Tech (6-7, 5-3) would build a lead to as many as seven on a Kimah Stribling layup, and led 36-30 at the break.
Farah Meridor hit a jumpshot for the Knights to make it 40-30 early in the third quarter to force the visitors into a timeout. UMaine-Augusta then took over. A Suhr layup capped off a 14-4 run 4:55 later to tie the game 44-44. Butterfield converted an unconventional three point play to give the Moose a lead they wouldn’t give back. UMA led 51-44 at the end of the third after outscoring VT 21-8. The Knights could only get within five in the final 10 minutes, as the Moose would later push it to the games biggest lead at 14 and would finish off the win.
Butterfield added 16 rebounds to her game high point total in the UMA win. Suhr filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks. Butler also got into double figures with 16 points and seven rebounds. Kennedy Henderson led Vermont Tech in the loss with 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and five steals. Stribling also added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Mears had 12 points and seven rebounds. The Moose, who are ranked #9 in the country in this weeks USCAA Division II coaches poll, will be at Southern Maine Community College Wednesday night.
