Thomas Jefferson grad off to award-winning start for Fairmont State basketball

Thomas Jefferson grad Alyssa DeAngelo made a big splash in the Fairmont State women’s basketball program this season.

A 5-foot-10 guard/forward, DeAngelo was named the Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year.

“I was surprised when I saw the MEC awards come out. I was not sure what to expect,” DeAngelo said. “There’s some really good talent in this conference, so to be chosen for this award means a lot to me.

“I love this game and put a lot of time into it. To see it pay off in my first year at Fairmont is awesome. I definitely do not want to stop here, though, and am excited for the team’s future.”

DeAngelo, 18, led all conference freshmen in scoring by averaging 13.6 points per game. Her 28 steals were tops among freshmen in the MEC and ranked second on her team. She also finished second in field goal percentage and blocked shots.

“Alyssa had an outstanding season,” said Stephanie Anderson, Fairmont State’s second-year coach. “Over the course of the year, she continued to grow and get better. Alyssa became one of our go-to players in late-game situations and our team relied on her heavy to score and make big plays happen. Coming in as a freshman, you can’t ask for more than that, to play such a integral role.

“Winning freshman of the year was a complete credit to Alyssa and how hard she worked and how much she was able to produce each day to be successful and help our team grow.”

The sharp-shooting DeAngelo reached double figures in 12 of the Falcons’ 17 games and shot 46% from the field and 77% from the free-throw line. She led in free-throw attempts and free throws made.

DeAngelo ended up second in scoring on the FSU squad. She netted a season-high 23 points Feb. 13 against Wheeling and scored 20 or more points three times.

She also connected for 19 (twice), 18 and 17 points during the regular season, then finished with a flurry with 21 points Feb. 24 against West Liberty and 22 March 1 against Alderson Broaddus in the first round of the NEC tournament.

“It took some time to adjust,” DeAngelo said. “We didn’t have a typical preseason with scrimmages or a season with a lot of games. I had to change up my game a little and how I attacked on offense.

“You definitely have to get more creative in college to get yourself open and get to the hoop. I still have a lot to learn and work on, so I’m excited to get back into the gym for postseason workouts and to prepare for next year.”

In the classroom, the former TJ hoops star is a dean’s list student in Fairmont State’s school of nursing. She will earn her ASN (Associate of Science in Nursing) after two years, then attain her BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) in her second two years.

“Alyssa is a outstanding kid and is juggling a lot, majoring in nursing,” Anderson said. “She has one of the hardest schedules on the team and is able to excel in both areas, which just tells you about her drive and commitment to being great at whatever she’s doing.”

DeAngelo garnered honorable mention All-MEC honors in 2020-21.

“We have high expectations for Alyssa moving forward,” Anderson said. “She has proven she likes the big moments and that she’s a hard worker. I think the sky’s the limits for her future, and she’s going to be a huge part of our team’s success moving forward.

“I love coaching Alyssa and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Neither can DeAngelo, who basically eats, sleeps and breathes basketball. She does some type of basketball training, lifting or shooting on a daily basis.

“We have all of the starters returning, so I am looking forward to seeing what we can do next season,” DeAngelo said. “I think we just began to scratch the surface this year.”

The Falcons were a young squad in 2020-21 and wrapped up the year with a 7-10 record.

“Two or three freshman started each game,” DeAngelo said, “so it was a lot of learning for us to do. We improved as this season went on, which helped our confidence. I know we will put in a ton of work before next year’s tip-off.”

At Thomas Jefferson, DeAngelo, a Jefferson Hills native, led her team to a WPIAL runner-up finish and a top-four ranking in the state as a senior. She scored 30 points twice in her career.

She was a two-time all-state selection and scored more than 1,000 career points, becoming the seventh player in school history to reach the milestone.