ALBANY, N.Y. — In a thrilling matchup Friday night, the No. 2 seed Vermont Catamounts edged past the top-seeded Albany Great Danes 62-55, capturing the America East Tournament championship. Nikola Priede played a pivotal role for Vermont, contributing 20 points and securing nine rebounds during the game.
Historically, Vermont and Albany had each secured seven America East championships, trailing only Maine, which boasts ten titles. This victory marks Vermont’s second championship in the past 15 years, with their previous win occurring in 2023 against Albany.
Earning their place in a third consecutive championship game, Vermont improved their record to 7-2 against the Great Danes since the 2022-23 season. Meanwhile, Albany (26-6) entered the championship riding a seven-game win streak, with their most recent loss also coming at the hands of Vermont on February 8. This defeat marked Albany’s first home loss of the season.
The game leaders from Vermont included a crucial three-pointer by Keira Hanson and a basket from Anna Olson, which put Vermont ahead 55-46 with just over three minutes to play. Albany’s attempt to close the gap fell short when America East Player of the Year Kayla Cooper missed two critical free throws with just over a minute left, maintaining Vermont’s lead at 60-53. Priede sealed the victory for Vermont with a fast-break layup, securing a nine-point advantage in the final 40 seconds.
Catherine Gilwee and Anna Olson also played significant roles, scoring 12 and 11 points respectively for Vermont. On the Albany side, Kayla Cooper scored 18 points, and Jessica Tomasetti added another 14 points for the team, which earned its third championship berth in the last four years by previously overcoming Maine in a comeback victory, 49-41.
