Sydney Przygoda, a four-year forward on the Utica University women’s basketball team and a New Jersey native, has earned a top award from the Empire 8 Conference.

Przygoda was selected the 2021-22 Empire 8 Conference Co-Woman of the Year.

The award honors a senior female student-athlete who has distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
Przygoda is the third athlete from Utica chosen as the conference’s Woman of the Year.

Eliza Beaudin of Elmira College was the other recipient of the award.

Przygoda recently graduated summa cum laude with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.93 as a psychology major.

In 21-22, Przygoda earned WBCA Division III Honorable Mention All-American honors and All-Empire 8 first team accolades for the second time.

Przygoda finished second in the league in scoring, averaging 15.4 points and led the league in rebounding with 10.5 caroms per contest despite missing the last six games of the season due to an injury. She helped Utica to a 19-7 record in 2021-22, including a program-record 12-game winning streak to start the season. Przygoda capped off her collegiate career by earning’s Utica’s prestigious Jim “Doc” Spartano Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award.

“It is such an incredible honor to be recognized with this award,” Przygoda said in a release. “When I started at Utica, I did not expect to have the career I did, and it would not have been possible without the support from my teammates, coaches and family. I am very grateful to have been a part of the Utica women’s basketball program and I am appreciative of the role it has had on helping me become who I am today.”