ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College sophomore guard Syrita Faraj (Troy, NY/Tamarac) was voted the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year. Results of the voting, conducted by the league's head coaches, were announced by the E8 Conference office earlier this afternoon.
Faraj, the first Gator to earn the award, also garnered first-team All-Conference honors.
The 2021-22 E8 Rookie of the Year led the league in scoring with 20.0 points per-game. She ranked fifth in rebounding and in field goal percentage. Faraj, who eclipsed 500 career points on Dec. 29 vs. Rhode Island College, scored 32 points, fifth-most in a game by an RSC player, twice this season (1/28, 2/4).
"Being named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year is a great honor for Syrita and our program," said Head Coach Allison Coleman. "Syrita put together a great follow-up campaign during her second year in a Gator uniform and I am excited to see what she, and the team, are able to do moving forward throughout her career here at Russell Sage."
Forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam/Hartwick), a graduate student, made the second-team. The transfer filled up the box score, ranking third in the E8 in scoring (15.4), second in rebounding (10.1), and third in both blocks per-game (1.3) and assists per-game (3.6). Pritchard, who registered 12 double-doubles, surpassed 1,000 career collegiate points on Jan. 13 vs. Medaille.
"Giuliana had one of the most well-rounded seasons we have seen here at Sage," said Coleman. "To average a double-double while being an undersized post player and still able to be third in conference for assists is a remarkable accomplishment."
One member of each institution makes the 2022-23 E8 Women's Basketball Sportswomen of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees distinguish themselves by consistently exhibiting the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen. Senior guard Lily Batule (Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley) represents the Gators on this squad.
The trio helped RSC (17-9/12-6 E8) secure the three-seed in the Conference Championship Tournament. The Gators defeated visiting Alfred, seeded sixth, 71-46, in the first round last night. RSC plays Nazareth, the two seed, in the semifinals on Friday at 7:30 PM. Top-seeded Saint John Fisher will host the semis and final.
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