Graber Leads Women's Basketball in 93-59 Season Opening Win

CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu or 518-629-7898/518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, November 1, 2022

The Hudson Valley Community College women's basketball team won its 2022 season opener 93-59 over UConn-Avery Point at the McDonough Sports Complex on Tuesday evening.

The Vikings were led by freshman Payton Graber (Schenectady/Schalmont), who filled the stat book with game-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Graber, the all-time leading scorer at Schalmont High School finished with 33 points on 12-of-25 shooting, including 5-of-9 from beyond the three-point arc in her first collegiate game. She also tallied game-highs with eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals as the Vikings handled the Pointers with ease to tip-off the new season.

In the first quarter, Hudson Valley pulled away early, taking a 29-16 advantage at the quarter break. They continued their defensive pressure and took advantage of the Pointer's 28 turnovers to extend their lead to a 52-32 halftime lead.

Sophomore Nya Ewans-Edmonds (Albany/Albany) also had a big game, shooting an efficient 10-of-15, including 1-of-1 from downtown for 22 total points. Ewans-Edmonds added four rebounds and four steals as they Vikings totaled 15 team steals, 19 team assists and 35 rebounds.

As a team, Hudson Valley finished the game shooting just under 55-percent from the floor (40-of-73) and 7-of-14 from three-point territory. Yvonne Boyd (Albany/Albany), a transfer from the College of Saint Rose, scored 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added seven assists in 34 minutes of play.

Tonight's game was a great start to the season and the Vikings are back home next Tuesday, November 8 as part of a double-header with the men's program as they welcome Fulton-Montgomery to the McDonough Sports Complex. The matchup with the Raiders will be a good, early test to see how the 2022 Vikings will stack up against a quality Region 3 program.

The women will tip-off first at 5 p.m., followed by the men. The game will be live streamed at hvccathletics.com/WATCH.