CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, December 20, 2018
The Hudson Valley men's and women's basketball programs have each earned a spot in the latest NJCAA national poll, marking the first time in the modern NJCAA poll era (2001-2002), both programs have been nationally ranked at the same time.
The men's team moved up one spot to No. 7 following a 1-0 week in which they defeated Kingsborough on the road 81-65 and improved to 11-2 on the year.
This week's women's basketball poll marks the first time the Vikings have been ranked inside the top-10 since 2002 when they were ranked No. 4 in the Nov. 11 poll. Hudson Valley's women are currently ranked No. 10 following their four-game win streak, including three straight games in which the Vikings surpassed the 100-point threshold.
Entering the holiday break, the men are led by Caleb Canty (Hudson/Hudson) and O'nandi Brooks (Brooklyn/George Westinghouse). Canty is averaging 19.2 points per game and was recently featured by the Times Union for his early season success. Brooks is having a tremendous year as he is averaging 18.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Combined, Brooks and Canty have earned NJCAA Region 3 Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors three times this season.
The women's program has four individuals scoring over 10 points per game and is led by All-Region returners in Hannah Kreiger (Brunswick/Tamarac) and Taylor Engster (Troy/Catholic Central). Kreiger is averaging 17.4 points per game, including a team-high 38 made three-point field goals. Engster has been playing very well for Hudson Valley and averages 12.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game this season.
Madison Garber (Schenectady/Schalmont) and Lyndsay Miller (Loudonville/Shaker) are also having good seasons for the No. 10 ranked Vikings. Graber is averaging 14.7 points a game and Miller, who was recently named NJCAA and NJCAA Region 3 women's basketball player of the week, is averaging 8.9 points 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists this year. Caitlin Estes (Scotia/Scotia-Glenville) has come on strong and ranks second on the team with 16.6 points per game and has grabbed a team-leading 7.6 rebounds.
Hudson Valley returns to action following the holiday break with the women traveling to participate in the NHTI Tournament in Concord, N.H. on Jan. 5-6. The men kick off the new semester at home on Jan. 8 when they welcome Columbia-Greene at 1 p.m. in the McDonough Sports Complex.