ALBANY, N.Y.- The College of Saint Rose women's basketball team recorded its first victory of this season behind a 62-55 triumph over #4/5 Assumption this evening at Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium, with tonight's result marking the Golden Knights' first win against a nationally-ranked opponent since January 2011. 

Sophomore guard Payton Graber scored 17 points, while junior guard Syrita Faraj netted 16 to lead the Saint Rose offense. Sophomore forward Aniya McDonald-Perry added 10 points and eight rebounds as well. 

The Golden Knights led by one going into halftime, with the two teams exchanging the lead seven different times in a seesaw first half.

After going scoreless in the first two periods, Graber came alive with 11 points in the third to help Saint Rose outscore the Greyhounds 19-9 across the period to take an 11-point advantage into the final frame.

Assumption shot 9-of-17 from the field while limiting the Golden Knights to an 18.2 percent (2-for-11) shooting average in the fourth, however Saint Rose converted 14 free throws across the closing minutes to secure the victory.

Guard Marina Callahan tallied 21 points to top an Assumption squad that was ranked in the top six in the most recent version of multiple national rankings. The Greyhounds advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2022 NCAA Division II women's basketball championship and were voted the favorites to win the Northeast-10 Conference this season.

Next up, the Golden Knights are back home to host Bridgeport in a 2:00 pm non-conference matchup on Sunday. Assumption returns at home next Wednesday night versus New Haven.

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