CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, January 26, 2019
The Hudson Valley women's basketball team (16-3) are rolling on all cylinders as the Vikings defeated Herkimer 82-81 to extend their win streak to a season best 10 straight games on Saturday afternoon in the McDonough Sports Complex in Troy, NY.
Hudson Valley fought back after trailing 77-72 with 4:30 remaining in the game with timely defensive stops and clutch baskets. Hayley Jones (Catskill/Catskill) had a key "and-1" basket at 2:12 in the fourth quarter to put the Vikings up 80-79.
Herkimer fought back, positioning themselves with opportunities at the basket, but they were quickly shutdown both times by Taylor Engster (Troy/Catholic Central) as she blocked potentially game-winning baskets for the Generals. Engster's last block came with three seconds remaining in the game as she blocked a point-blank layup opportunity that would have guaranteed a win for Herkimer.
Madison Graber (Schenectady/Schalmont) also had a key block for Hudson Valley with 32 seconds remaining as she prevented Herkimer from scoring a go-ahead basket as well. The defensively intensity at the end of the game proved to be the difference in what was an evenly-matched game.
Caitlin Estes (Scotia/Scotia-Glenville) led the Vikings with 20 points from 9-of-20 from the floor. Engster finished the game with 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two huge blocks in 28 minutes of play.
Hannah Kreiger (Brunswick/Tamarac) and Graber combined to score 25 points and seven rebounds for Hudson Valley. Kreiger finished with 13 points and shot 5-for-11 from the floor, including a key three-point basket near the end of the game as Hudson Valley trailed by five late in the final quarter. Graber had 12 points to go with three rebounds and three blocks.
Hudson Valley is back home tomorrow, January 27 to play Broome at 1 p.m. in the McDonough Sports Complex in Troy, NY.