Vermont Women's Basketball Hosts Lehigh for Annual Salute to Service Game

The University of Vermont women's basketball team will return to Patrick Gymnasium this Sunday to host the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in a non-conference matchup. Scheduled for a 2 p.m. tipoff in Burlington, the contest marks the program's annual Salute to Service game. The home contest provides the Catamounts another early-season opportunity to compete in front of their local fans.

Presented by Milton Rents, the afternoon event serves as an official tribute to active-duty military personnel, veterans, and local first responders. Service members and emergency responders will receive complimentary general admission upon presenting a valid identification card at the venue. Organizers emphasized that the initiative aims to show appreciation for those serving both nationwide and across the local region.

Several community and service organizations are scheduled to be on-site throughout the afternoon to participate in special recognitions. Representatives from the Vermont Army National Guard and the Josh Pallotta Fund will join the athletic department to connect with fans and highlight support resources for veterans. Their presence underscores the athletic department's continued outreach to veterans and military families in northwestern Vermont.

Alongside the military recognition ceremonies, Sunday's event will feature an active community drive to support the America East Food Frenzy. Spectators attending the contest are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to collection points stationed around Patrick Gym. The collected goods will be distributed to assist local families facing nutritional insecurity ahead of the holiday season.

The charitable collection is coordinated locally by Vermont's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as part of the conference-wide community service initiative. Each year, America East member institutions compete to gather donations and raise awareness for hunger relief across their respective regional communities. The annual campaign allows student-athletes to leverage varsity athletic events for direct community impact.

On the court, the afternoon clash presents the Catamounts with an important non-conference test on their home floor. Early-season contests against non-league opponents provide the coaching staff with essential opportunities to test lineup combinations, evaluate defensive discipline, and refine half-court execution. Every non-conference outing plays a formative role in establishing the team's tactical identity before conference play begins.

The visiting Lehigh Mountain Hawks travel to Burlington aiming to challenge Vermont's defensive structure and disrupt their rhythm. Competing against an established Patriot League program offers the Catamounts a valuable test of perimeter containment and rebounding consistency. Playing inside Patrick Gym will give Vermont an opportunity to rely on familiar home-court surroundings to control the tempo of play.

Fans unable to attend the matchup in person will have multiple broadcast avenues available to follow the competition live. The game will be streamed online via ESPN+, requiring a subscription to the streaming platform. In addition, radio listeners can tune into the live audio broadcast over WVMT and the Varsity Network app, where Ryan Zimmerman will provide the call.

The Catamounts will look to combine a disciplined on-court performance with a successful community turnout to honor service members and support regional charity efforts. Following Sunday's non-conference test, the program will continue working through its November schedule in preparation for the demanding winter America East slate. Both teams enter the weekend focused on executing game plans and building momentum for the challenges ahead.