Peterson thrives in new starting role for Syracuse after playing sparsely last year
Alexis Peterson has had a breakout first six games for Syracuse after coming off the bench behind Rachel Coffey last season. Larry E. Reid Jr. / Contributing Photographer
When Vermont gained its only lead of the game against Syracuse on Monday night with 12:42 left in the first half, point guard Alexis Peterson answered by hitting a 15-foot pull-up jumper on the next possession.
Five minutes into the second half, Peterson had a steal and finished on the other end. On Vermont’s next trip down the court, Peterson stole the ball again and passed it to Cornelia Fondren for an easy basket in transition, which was part of a 20-0 Orange run that broke the game open in the 94-63 SU win.
When the Orange has needed big plays this season, the sophomore point guard has provided them.
“The key for me is to stay confident, stay poised,” Peterson said.
As a freshman last season, Peterson started just one game and came off the bench behind senior point guard Rachel Coffey. With Coffey now graduated, Peterson is averaging 33 minutes per game, shooting 51 percent from the field and has scored double-figures in all but one game this year. She’ll be counted on again on Thursday when the No. 21 Orange (5-1) faces the defending Big Ten champions Penn State (1-5) at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
At the beginning of last season, Peterson only received minutes at the end of blowouts. But throughout the year, her role increased because her play improved. And now with Coffey gone, Peterson is the go-to point guard.
“She’s attacking in transition,” SU head coach Quentin Hillsman said. “She’s really playing at the rim and she’s really pushing tempo and obviously if she’s pushing the ball down the floor, the opponent starts to break down.”
In just her second collegiate start, Peterson set a new career-high with 19 points in the season-opener against Fordham. Two weeks later, she dropped 19 points again, this time versus East Carolina. Against No. 1 South Carolina, Peterson played all 40 minutes without subbing out once.
She’s been asked to take on more than ever before.
“Her job is hard,” Hillsman said. “We ask her to push the ball every possession down the floor and she’s doing that at a tremendous rate for us.”
Peterson was the third-string point guard in 2013–14 behind Coffey and then-sophomore Cornelia Fondren. Peterson has taken the reigns at the point, but Fondren has also started all six games at shooting guard.
The pairing has created a dangerous mix and Peterson’s emergence has given Hillsman more options with the guards in his lineup.
“She’s focused and now that she’s had to play this big role, she’s stepped up a lot,” Fondren said. “She’s remained level-headed and that’s where I think I’m proud of her the most. She’s staying humble, she’s doing what she’s supposed to do.”
While Peterson is having a breakout season, she recognizes how important last year was to her development.
Last year, Peterson averaged 12.3 minutes and just three points per game. Now, she is leading the team in scoring average with 14.2 points per game.
“I think I’ve learned that one, you must wait your turn,” Peterson said. “You’re not given an opportunity right away. And secondly, you have to be ready to seize the moment.”
