Shelly Pennefather

Last updated
Shelly Pennefather
Personal information
Bornc. 1966
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Career information
High school
College Villanova (1983–1987)
Position Forward
Career history
1987–1990 Nippon Express
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Women's basketball
Jones Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1982 Taipai, Taiwan Team Competition

Mary Michelle Pennefather (born c. 1966), now known as Sister Rose Marie of the Queen of Angels, [1] is a former professional basketball player. Winner of the Wade Trophy in 1987, she went on to play premier league basketball in Japan before retiring to a monastic life.

Contents

High school

Pennefather spent three years at Bishop Machebeuf Catholic High School in Denver, Colorado and one at Notre Dame High School in Utica, New York. She led Machebeuf to three consecutive state championships and a 70–0 record. She led Notre Dame to a 26–0 record, also winning the state championship making for a no loss record for her entire high school career. [2] [3]

Pennefather was named to the Parade All-American High School Basketball Team. She was a U.S. Olympic Festival selection in 1981 and 1983. She turned out for the USA Women's R. William Jones Cup Team in 1982 where she earned a silver medal. [4] [5] [6]

College

Pennefather played her college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats at Villanova University in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania. She was the school's all-time leading scorer for both women and men with a career total of 2,408 points. She was the Big East Player of The Year three times. She was a First Team All-American selection in 1987, and the winner of the coveted Wade Trophy. [1] [7] [8] [9]

Villanova statistics

Source [10]

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
YearTeamGPPointsFG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1984Villanova2650453.5%78.0%9.7NANANA19.4
1985Villanova2954453.4%74.0%10.94.32.21.518.8
1986Villanova3168557.3%81.8%9.55.12.30.922.1
1987Villanova3167558.5%76.8%9.94.32.41.121.8
Career117240855.9%78.0%10.03.61.80.920.6

Professional career

After graduating from Villanova, Pennefather played three seasons of professional basketball for the Nippon Express in Japan. [1] [11]

Religious life

On June 8, 1991, Pennefather retired to a monastic life with the Poor Clares order at their monastery in Alexandria, Virginia. [12] [11] On June 6, 1997, six years after entering the monastery as a novice, Pennefather, now known as Sister Rose Marie, took her final vows as a nun. [1] On June 9, 2019, Pennefather had her first physical contact with family and friends since becoming a nun; her next opportunity to do so will not happen for another 25 years, per the rule of her religious order. [12]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Pennefather heeds her calling". catholiceducation.org. April 6, 2003. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  2. ↑ Latimer, Clay. "Sister of mercy". Associated Press Sports Editors. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016– via Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Pennefather Keeps Trying To Duck Spotlight". philly.com. January 22, 1986. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  4. ↑ "History made and repeated". Thecatholicsun.com. April 3, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Women's All-Time U. S. Olympic Festival Roster by Affiliation". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  6. ↑ "USA Women's R. William Jones Cup". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  7. ↑ "NCAA Basketball Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  8. ↑ Jacobs, Jeff (March 7, 2004). "This Sister Could Bring It". philly.com. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  9. ↑ "The Wade Trophy". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  10. ↑ "Women's Basketball Finest" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  11. 1 2 Kram, Mark (March 10, 1993). "The World Is Her Cloister". philly.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016– via Wayback Machine.
  12. 1 2 Merrill, Elizabeth (August 2, 2019). "Whatever happened to Villanova basketball star Shelly Pennefather? 'So I made this deal with God.'". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
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