Christensen and Steele Named December Athletes of the Month

Christensen and Steele Named December Athletes of the Month
January 5, 2026

CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Monday, January 5, 2026

Hudson Valley Community College Athletics has announced women's basketball sophomore Lila Christensen and men's basketball freshman Marcus Steele as the December Athletes of the Month. The monthly honor recognizes student-athletes for their outstanding performances both academically and athletically.

Lila Christensen (Mechanicville, NY), a forward and Exercise Science major, has been a consistent presence for the Vikings women's basketball team while excelling in the classroom. Starting all eight games this season, Christensen is averaging 26.0 minutes per game and 7.1 points per contest, while leading the team with 53 total rebounds (6.6 per game). She has been especially effective on the defensive glass with 45 defensive rebounds, and contributes across the stat sheet with 13 assists, 10 steals, and 6 blocks. In conference play, Christensen increased her production, averaging 11.0 points per game while shooting 40.0% from the field and pulling down 7.0 rebounds per game.

On the men's side, Marcus Steele (Kingston, NY), a freshman guard and Physical Education major, has made an immediate impact in his first collegiate season while maintaining strong academic performance. Steele has appeared in 10 games this season, averaging 18.5 minutes and 7.3 points per game, while tying for the team lead with 53 total rebounds (5.3 per game)—a notable achievement for a guard. He has been effective on both ends of the floor, recording 22 offensive rebounds, 12 steals, and 7 blocks, and has shown consistency at the free-throw line, shooting 88.2% overall. In conference action, Steele averaged 6.7 rebounds per game and continued to contribute in multiple facets of the game.

Hudson Valley Community College Athletics congratulates Christensen and Steele on being named December Athletes of the Month, honoring their commitment to excellence in competition and in the classroom.