CIAA Defensive Player Of The Year Helps Lead Broncos Through A Championship Season
posted by Tayonna Robertson | March 26, 2024 | In News, SportsFayetteville State University women’s basketball program had lofty expectations for a season on the horizon, and they exceeded each one.
The Broncos were led by 2023-24 Coach of the Year Interim Head Coach Tyreece Brown, Aniylah Bryant, who is the 2023-24 CIAA Player of the Year, and 2023-24 Defensive Player of the Year Morgan Graham.
Graham is 6”1 junior center who is a Raleigh native. She averaged 7.0 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 3.0 blocks per game, leading the CIAA in blocks.
Coming out of high school, Graham had multiple offers to play elsewhere, including a scholarship from Elizabeth City State University, a team which Fayetteville State Broncos cruised past to win the 2023-24 CIAA championship.
Graham recorded some of the best games of her career this season. On December 16, 2023, she tallied 7 blocked shots. On top of that, she scored a career high of 20 points and 14 boards versus Virginia State University.
“Being overlooked throughout the conference is what motivated me to strive for the defensive player of the year award. Not allowing any outside noise to affect my performance is what kept me levelheaded and head strong throughout the whole season,” Graham said.
Through her college experience, she is leaning on her parents, close friends, and faith in religious beliefs as she navigates this championship run.
“My mom, dad and sister along with my close friends, going to them and expressing all of my worries and feelings and allowing them to give me valuable feedback is what has helped me get this far,” Graham said.
Although she is averaging 7.0 points per game, Graham isn’t looking to see her name in the box score. She takes pride in her work on the defensive end. Graham loves to lock down her opponent and get a big block for her team.
“As a teammate of Morgan, her defensive leadership style is best described as commanding, yet supportive. She leads by example with her relentless work ethic on the court, always pushing herself and her teammates to strive for excellence in defensive plays. Her impact on the team’s performance is immense, as she instills a sense of discipline and accountability, ensuring everyone executes their defensive responsibilities effectively,” her teammate and long-time friend Nyah Wilkins said.
During the season, Graham surpassed and became the record holder in All-Time leading blocks at Fayetteville State University. She has a total of 169 total blocks in her career and counting as her team prepares to make a run and bring the Division ll National Championship to Fayetteville State.
“As a longtime friend of Morgan’s, witnessing her break the all-time leading block record is incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and exceptional skill as a player. Personally, it fills me with pride and admiration to see her achieve such a remarkable milestone, knowing the hard work and sacrifices she’s made along the way,” Wilkins said.
On February 25, Graham was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year and All CIAA Front Court awards. Following that, she led her team to winning a CIAA championship on March 2.
Graham stated it’s going to take the same amount of grit and resilience that her and her teammates had in the CIAA tournament and through the whole season, and if they keep their same faith, she believes they can be unstoppable.
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