1/26/2006 - (Convent Station, NJ) – At the beginning of the 2005-06 season, Mount Saint Vincent first year Head Coach Ed Ryder raved about the defensive play of sophomore Kaitlin Burud (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook HS). He considered her among the team’s best defensive players, and her team leading 74 steals a year ago were proof of Ryder’s assessment.

Sophomore Kaitlin Burud had an incredible night with 12 points, seven steals, four assists, and career highs in both rebounds (17) and blocked shots (4) as the Mount Saint Vincent Women's Basketball team won for the second straight game and third time in four games, topping St. Elizabeth 72-39 at St. Elizabeth. The 5-11 Dolphins host Skyline Conference leader Mount Saint Mary on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

17 games into the season, Burud has evolved into far more than a defensive specialist. During a 72-39 win over the College of Saint Elizabeth on Thursday night, Burud erupted for one of the finest performances of her career, scoring a game-high 12 points and adding a career-high 17 rebounds as the Mount opened the game with a 36-13 halftime lead en route to their second consecutive win. Besides her second career double-double, Burud added seven steals, four assists, and a career-high four blocked shots. She was simply everywhere, and a major reason why the Dolphins have shown dramatic improvement down the stretch, winning three of their last four games.

After averaging just over seven points and four rebounds per game a year ago, Burud us averaging nearly nine points and six rebounds per game during the 2005-06 season. She is also on pace to shatter the assist and steal totals she amassed during her rookie campaign.

The Mount (5-11, 2-1 HVWAC) opened the game on a 9-0 run and never looked back, enjoying runs of 12-0 and 11-2 during the late portion of the first half and early part of the second half. Four Dolphins scored in double figures, including Burud, senior Lauren DeRosa (Hawthorne, NY/Westlake HS), who chipped in a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, Meagan Fitzpatrick (Yonkers, NY/Our Lady of Victory), who had 10 points and eight rebounds, and Laura Bucci (Irvington, NY/Our Lady of Victory), who added 10 points and five assists. Overall, every Dolphin scored at least four points.

Mount Saint Vincent enjoyed a 52-41 rebounding advantage and forced 25 St. Elizabeth turnovers, while committing only 17. The Dolphins also shot 41% while the Eagles shot 24% from the floor.

Up next for Mount Saint Vincent is a showdown with Skyline Conference leader Mount Saint Mary on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2:00 p.m. at Mount Saint Vincent. The Mount lost to the Blue Knights, 86-49 on Jan. 21 at Mount Saint Mary.