College Notebook: Lynn’s Amenta receives prestigious award

Cassi Amenta, a 2011 graduate of St. Mary’s and a senior forward on the Merrimack College women’s basketball team, was named the recipient of the Yvonne Burgess Hansen Award from Merrimack’s department of sociology. The award, named in honor of Dr. Burgess Hansen, who retired from Merrimack College in December 2010, is given annually to the senior sociology major with the highest GPA. The award comes with a monetary prize, which Amenta will receive at this spring’s induction ceremony for Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), the international sociology honor society. In addition, Amenta’s name will be inscribed on the plaque that resides in Merrimack’s sociology department.
In 14 games for the Warriors this season, Amenta is averaging 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
St. Mary’s girls’ basketball grads excelling at next level
In addition to Amenta, several other graduates of St. Mary’s girls’ basketball program are excelling at the next level:
Lynn’s Tori Faieta has been a strong presence for the Stonehill College women’s basketball team this season. In 16 games Faieta, a senior forward, is averaging 15.9 points and 11.1 rebounds for the Seahawks.
Stonehill is currently 14-2 and sits atop the Northeast-10 standings. Faieta had 20 points and 17 rebounds on Saturday but the Seahawks dropped a 72-71 decision against the University of New Haven.
Kirsten Ferrari, who was part of the 2010 St. Mary’s girls’ basketball team that won a state title, has been outstanding for Wheaton College this season.
Ferrari, a senior, has started in 17 games and averages 8.7 points, 3.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. She had 12 points in a 54-52 win over MIT on January 21 and a season high of 16 points back in November against Suffolk.
Erin Fahey, of Salem and a graduate of St. Mary’s, is a senior forward for UMass Dartmouth. In 17 games for the Corsairs, she is averaging 6.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. She had six points and six rebounds in a 76-41 win over Plymouth State on Saturday.
Ann Marie Idusuyi, a junior on the Assumption College women’s basketball team, has averaged 6.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 17 games this season. Idusuyi had a season-high 15 points on Jan.10 against the University of New Haven.
Emily Doyle has started 15 of 16 games for the Wheelock College women’s team this season. Doyle is averaging 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Names and notes
Beverly’s Jen Ashton a senior guard at Westfield State, was named the MASCAC women’s basketball player of the week for last week. She averaged 19 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and six steals in a 2-0 week for the Owls, including 20 points, eight assists, seven steals and five rebounds in the 67-65 overtime win at Worcester State and 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals in the 63-47 win over MCLA?.Salem State’s Malissa Saad, a sophomore forward, was named to the MASCAC weekly honor roll. She averaged 9.7 points and six rebounds while shooting on 44 percent in an 0-3 week for the Vikings, including a season-high 15 points in a 73-64 loss to Rivier University…Salem State’s Jason Pucciarelli, a freshman goalie, was named the MASCAC men’s hockey goalie and rookie of the week for last week. He made 24 saves with a save percentage of .960 in the Vikings’ 6-1 victory over UMass Dartmouth?.Salem State’s Shaquan Murray a freshman guard, was named the MASCAC men’s basketball rookie of the week. He averaged 13 points and 1.5 steals while shooting 57.9 percent (11 for 9) in a 1-1 week for the Vikings. Teammate Hamed Akanni, a senior guard, was named to the MASCAC weekly honor roll. He averaged 13.5 points and nine rebounds while shooting 64.7 percent.