Jean DePlacido
The Salem News
Amy Pelletier has always had a deadly accurate outside shot on a basketball court.
The former Bishop Fenwick star, who scored over 1,200 points in high school for the Crusaders, is now playing a leading role at Stonehill College, where she has started every game while averaging 30 minutes a night and scoring 15.8 points per game.
The Skyhawks (14-5 overall 11-4 NE-10) had a thrilling come-from-behind win over St. Rose in Albany last weekend. Stonehill was down by nine points with 90 seconds left, but roared back to send it into overtime and won, 92-81. Pelletier, a junior guard, scored 16 of her 23 points in the second half of that triumph. In finishing just one point shy of equaling her career best, the Beverly native also knocked down 5-of-11 three-point attempts.
"Against St. Rose it was a matter of coming back possession by possession. They had the lead the whole game until we finally tied it up right at the end (of regulation). Earlier our shots weren't falling, but we never gave up. We proved to ourselves that we can handle any adversity," said Pelletier.
"We're a veteran team and are playing a lot smarter. We're poised and executing our plays really well. Our goal is to finish at the top of the league, and we're taking it one game at a time. My role is to hit the 3-point shots (she's currently making them at a 48.5 success rate)."
The honors student, who is majoring in finance, was named to the Assumption Tip-Off Classic All Tournament team at the start of the season.
Last year Pelletier played in all 29 games for Stonehill and averaged 10.3 points per game. She was ranked second in NE-10 in 3-point field goals per game and 26th nationally in Division 2.
One thing that makes her so successful is a quick release.
"My teammates are finding me coming off screens," said Pelletier.
"I'm so happy I decided to go to Stonehill; I love the school and couldn't be happier. It's a nice mix of strong academics and athletics. We play in one of the top leagues in the country in Division 2, and the competition is great. On any given night every team in this league can beat anybody else."
