2025–26 Vermont Catamounts women's basketball team

2025–26 Vermont Catamounts women's basketball
2025–26 Vermont Catamounts women's basketball
America East regular season and tournament champions
NCAA tournament, First Round
Conference	America East Conference
Record	27–8 (13–3 AmEast)
Head coach	Alisa Kresge (7th season);
Associate head coach	Will Lanier; Sacha Santimano
Assistant coaches	Hayley Moore; Alec Kerdell;
Home arena	Patrick Gym

2025–26 America East Conference women's basketball standings
	Conf.				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
Vermont †	13	–	3	.813	27	–	8	.771
Maine	12	–	4	.750	19	–	13	.594
Binghamton	10	–	6	.625	20	–	12	.625
UMBC	10	–	6	.625	17	–	14	.548
NJIT	9	–	7	.563	19	–	13	.594
Bryant	8	–	8	.500	18	–	12	.600
New Hampshire	4	–	12	.250	10	–	20	.333
Albany	4	–	12	.250	14	–	16	.467
UMass Lowell	2	–	14	.125	8	–	21	.276

† 2026 AmEast tournament winner As of March 22, 2026

The 2025–26 Vermont Catamounts women's basketball team currently represent the University of Vermont during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Catamounts, led by seventh-year head coach Alisa Kresge, play their home games at the Patrick Gym in Burlington, Vermont as members of the America East Conference.

Previous season

The Catamounts finished the 2024–25 season 21–13, 13–3 in America East play, to finish in second place.^[1] They defeated UMBC,^[2] Bryant,^[3] and Albany to win the AmEast tournament championship, earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.^[4] In the NCAA tournament, they would receive the No. 15 seed in the Spokane Regional 1,^[5] where they would be defeated by No. 2 seed NC State in the First Round.^[6]

Offseason

Departures

Vermont Departures
Name	Num	Pos.	Height	Year	Hometown	Reason for Departure
Lexi Kerstein	1	G	5'6"	Sophomore	Riverwoods, IL	Transferred to Northern Illinois
Natalie Beaudoin	4	G	6'0"	Freshman	Lewiston, ME	Transferred to Franklin Pierce (DII)
Bella Vito	10	G	5'9"	Senior	Montville, NJ	Graduated
Nika Kurdija	11	G	5'9"	Junior	Gornja Vrba, Croatia	Transferred to USC Aiken (DII)
Sarah Erickson	22	G	5'7"	Senior	Norwich, CT	Graduated
Anna Olson	24	F	6'1"	Graduate	Monticello, MN	Graduated
Sarah Lazar	34	F	6'3"	Senior	Madison, WI	Graduated

Incoming transfers

Vermont incoming transfers
Name	Num	Pos.	Height	Year	Hometown	Previous School
Annemarie Batista	11	F	6'1"	RS Senior	Tucson, AZ	Little Rock
Jadyn Weltz	24	G	5'7"	RS Senior	Timmins, Ontario	Binghamton

Recruiting class

There was no recruiting class for the class of 2025.

Preseason

On October 20, 2025, the America East Conference released their preseason poll. Vermont was picked to finish atop the conference, receiving seven first-place votes.^[7]

Preseason rankings

AmEast Preseason Poll
Place	Team	Votes
1	Vermont	63 (7)
2	Maine	55 (2)
3	Bryant	46
4	Albany	42
5	NJIT	37
6	Binghamton	26
7	New Hampshire	24
8	UMBC	23
9	UMass Lowell	8
(#) first-place votes

Source:^[7]

Preseason All-America East Team

Preseason All-America East Team
Player	Year	Position
Catherine Gilwee	Senior	Guard
Nikola Priede	Senior	Center

Source:^[7]

Roster

2025–26 Vermont Catamounts women's basketball team

Players

Coaches

Pos.	#	Name	Height	Year	Previous school	Hometown
G	0	Malia Lenz	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	Jr	Abbotsford Senior Secondary School	Chilliwack, British Columbia
G	1	Jacklynn Hosier	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	Fr	Alexandria High School	Alexandria, IN
G	2	Maren Maxon	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	Fr	Wells High School	Wells, ME
G	3	Emma Haan	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	So	Zionsville Community High School	Zionsville, IN
F	4	Madison Hall	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	Fr	Good Counsel High School	Crofton, MD
G	10	Lia Hanson	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	Fr	Issaquah High School	Bellevue, WA
F	11	Annemarie Batista	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	RS Sr	Little Rock	Tucson, AZ
G	12	Keira Hanson	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	Sr	Issaquah High School	Issaquah, WA
G	14	Catherine Gilwee	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	RS Sr	Champlain Valley Union High School	Shelburne, VT
F	15	Piper Risdon	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	So	Lowell High School	Lowell, MI
G	23	Devon Yarde	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)	So	Hilton Head Christian Academy	Bluffton, SC
G	24	Jadyn Weltz	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	RS Sr	O'Gorman High School Binghamton	Timmins, Ontario
C	25	Nikola Priede	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	Sr	Riga High School	Riga, Latvia
F	33	Savanna Creal	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	RS Fr	Hamilton Chandler High School	Chandler, AZ

Head coach

Alisa Kresge (Marist)

Assistant coach(es)

Will Lanier (Georgia Tech)
Sacha Santimano (Dakota State)
Hayley Moore (Binghamton)
Alec Kerdell (Alabama)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 23, 2025

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank^#	Opponent^#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
October 30, 2025* 6:00 p.m.		Saint Michael's	W 68–34		–	–	–	Patrick Gymnasium Burlington, VT
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2025* 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		Dean College	W 137–31	1–0	20 – Priede	7 – Tied	6 – Tied	Patrick Gymnasium (586) Burlington, VT
November 8, 2025* 12:00 p.m., ESPN+		Saint Anselm	W 84–49	2–0	23 – Priede	8 – Priede	3 – Tied	Patrick Gymnasium (774) Burlington, VT
November 12, 2025* 4:00 p.m., ESPN+		Buffalo	W 73–55	3–0	20 – K. Hanson	11 – Priede	6 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (629) Burlington, VT
November 15, 2025* 1:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Lehigh	W 59–49	4–0	15 – Weltz	10 – Lenz	3 – Tied	Stabler Arena (418) Bethlehem, PA
November 19, 2025* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at High Point	L 65–71	4–1	19 – Tied	11 – Priede	4 – Weltz	Qubein Center (675) High Point, NC
November 23, 2025* 5:00 p.m., ESPN+		at No. 25 Washington	L 39–71	4–2	12 – K. Hanson	8 – Priede	2 – Priede	Alaska Airlines Arena (1,667) Seattle, WA
November 28, 2025* 7:30 p.m., ESPN+		vs. Hawaii American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown	W 73–67	5–2	18 – Priede	8 – Priede	3 – Priede	Stan Sheriff Center (1,680) Honolulu, HI
November 29, 2025* 5:00 p.m., ESPN+		vs. Santa Clara American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown	W 63–51	6–2	19 – K. Hanson	12 – Priede	4 – Weltz	Stan Sheriff Center (100) Honolulu, HI
November 30, 2025* 5:00 p.m., ESPN+		vs. Lindenwood American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown	L 54–58	6–3	16 – K. Hanson	7 – Priede	2 – Priede	Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI
December 5, 2025* 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		Bucknell	W 64–48	7–3	17 – Weltz	11 – Lenz	4 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (778) Burlington, VT
December 7, 2025* 1:00 p.m., NEC Front Row		at Central Connecticut	W 85–48	8–3	13 – Tied	9 – Haan	5 – Priede	Detrick Gymnasium (204) New Britain, CT
December 14, 2025* 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Sacred Heart	W 63–46	9–3	25 – Priede	10 – Priede	9 – Weltz	William H. Pitt Center (565) Fairfield, CT
December 16, 2025* 10:30 a.m., ESPN+		at Holy Cross	L 45–46	9–4	11 – Priede	9 – Lenz	1 – Tied	Hart Center Arena Worcester, MA
December 20, 2025* 12:00 p.m., FloCollege		at Drexel	W 69–59	10–4	21 – Priede	9 – Priede	6 – Weltz	Daskalakis Athletic Center (340) Philadelphia, PA
December 28, 2025* 2:00 p.m., NESN		Dartmouth	W 61–59	11–4	18 – Priede	9 – Priede	7 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (1,072) Burlington, VT
America East regular season
January 1, 2026 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Albany	W 72−56	12−4 (1−0)	19 – K. Hanson	6 – Tied	5 – Weltz	Broadview Center (1,243) Albany, NY
January 3, 2026 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		New Hampshire	W 72–56	13–4 (2–0)	35 – Priede	7 – Lenz	11 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (1,219) Burlington, VT
January 8, 2026 6:07 p.m., ESPN+		at Binghamton	L 67–71	13–5 (2–1)	21 – Lenz	12 – Priede	5 – Weltz	Dr. Bai Lee Court (1,273) Vestal, NY
January 15, 2026 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Maine	W 64–53	14–5 (3–1)	20 – K. Hanson	10 – Lenz	6 – Weltz	Memorial Gymnasium (934) Orono, ME
January 17, 2026 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		Albany	W 60–49	15–5 (4–1)	15 – Weltz	9 – Tied	3 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (966) Burlington, VT
January 22, 2026 11:00 a.m., ESPN+		UMass Lowell	W 82–46	16–5 (5–1)	31 – Priede	6 – Tied	6 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (2,171) Burlington, VT
January 24, 2026 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		Bryant	W 71–53	17–5 (6–1)	21 – Weltz	9 – Tied	3 – Haan	Patrick Gymnasium (1,538) Burlington, VT
January 29, 2026 6:30 p.m., ESPN+		at UMBC	W 69–47	18–5 (7–1)	21 – Priede	12 – Priede	4 – K. Hanson	Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena (542) Baltimore, MD
January 31, 2026 12:00 p.m., ESPN+		at NJIT	W 63–61	19–5 (8–1)	26 – Priede	10 – Priede	7 – Weltz	Wellness and Events Center (376) Newark, NJ
February 5, 2026 11:00 a.m., NESN		Maine	L 46–55	19–6 (8–2)	13 – Tied	10 – Priede	3 – Haan	Patrick Gymnasium (2,549) Burlington, VT
February 7, 2026 1:00 p.m., ESPN+		at New Hampshire	W 60–35	20–6 (9–2)	23 – Priede	12 – Lenz	2 – K. Hanson	Lundholm Gymnasium (337) Durham, NH
February 12, 2026 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		Binghamton	W 61–52	21–6 (10–2)	21 – K. Hanson	7 – Lenz	4 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (777) Burlington, VT
February 14, 2026 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Bryant	W 52–45	22–6 (11–2)	15 – K. Hanson	10 – Priede	2 – Tied	Chace Athletic Center (179) Smithfield, RI
February 19, 2026 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		UMBC	L 44–46	22–7 (11–3)	19 – Priede	6 – Priede	3 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (862) Burlington, VT
February 21, 2026 4:00 p.m., ESPN+		NJIT	W 67–37	23–7 (12–3)	25 – Priede	11 – Priede	8 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (1,162) Burlington, VT
February 26, 2026 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		at UMass Lowell	W 68–37	24–7 (13–3)	20 – Priede	9 – Lenz	5 – Priede	Kennedy Family Athletic Complex (232) Lowell, MA
America East tournament
March 5, 2026 6:00 p.m., ESPN+	(1)	(8) Albany Quarterfinals	W 55–40	25–7	16 – Priede	8 – Weltz	6 – K. Hanson	Patrick Gymnasium (932) Burlington, VT
March 9, 2026 6:00 p.m., ESPN+	(1)	(4) UMBC Semifinals	W 68–65 ^2OT	26–7	23 – Weltz	14 – Haan	3 – K. Hanson	Patrick Gymnasium (1,148) Burlington, VT
March 13, 2026 5:00 p.m., ESPNU	(1)	(2) Maine Championship	W 61–43	27–7	23 – K. Hanson	14 – Lenz	5 – Weltz	Patrick Gymnasium (2,247) Burlington, VT
NCAA tournament
March 21, 2026* 12:00 p.m., ESPN	(14 FW3)	at (3 FW3) No. 13 Louisville First Round	L 52–72	27–8	22 – K. Hanson	13 – Lenz	3 – Haan	KFC Yum! Center (5,895) Louisville, KY
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. FW3=Fort Worth 3. All times are in Eastern Time.

Sources:^[8]

References

^ "2024-25 Women's Basketball Standings". America East Conference. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
^ "Women's Basketball Falls in America East Quarterfinals". University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
^ "Vermont women's basketball books third straight trip to America East championship game". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
^ "Nikola Priede's 20 points help Vermont women beat Albany 62-55 for the America East tourney title". FOX Sports. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
^ "2025 Division I Women's Basketball Official Bracket". NCAA.com. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
^ "Zoe Brooks scores 19 and NC State women beat Vermont 75-55 in March Madness". AP News. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c "America East Reveals Women's #AEHoops 2025-26 Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team". America East Conference. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
^ "2025–26 Women's Basketball Schedule". University of Vermont Athletics.

[1] "2024-25 Women's Basketball Standings". America East Conference. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

[2] "Women's Basketball Falls in America East Quarterfinals". University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

[3] "Vermont women's basketball books third straight trip to America East championship game". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

[4] "Nikola Priede's 20 points help Vermont women beat Albany 62-55 for the America East tourney title". FOX Sports. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

[5] "2025 Division I Women's Basketball Official Bracket". NCAA.com. Retrieved December 21, 2025.

[6] "Zoe Brooks scores 19 and NC State women beat Vermont 75-55 in March Madness". AP News. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

[poll-7] "America East Reveals Women's #AEHoops 2025-26 Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team". America East Conference. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

[8] "2025–26 Women's Basketball Schedule". University of Vermont Athletics.

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[8]

Vermont Catamounts women's basketball
Venues	Patrick Gym (1979–present) Tarrant Event Center (planned)
Culture & lore	History
People	Head coaches
Seasons	List of seasons 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26