Amelia Strong wasn’t used to sitting on the bench. And it wasn’t an acquired taste.
After being a 1,000-point scorer and a two-time Monsignor Martin Athletic Association MVP for Cardinal O’Hara, the Niagara Falls native spent more time watching than playing during her first two years in college. Strong signed with LIU Brooklyn, but transferred to Niagara without playing a game, and after sitting out her freshman season, she played just 7.9 minutes per game last year.
Strong didn’t like sitting on the bench, especially on a team that was winning games. She wanted to be part of the action, so she went to work and gave Niagara coach Jada Pierce a reason to put her on the floor.
It’s been an up and down season for Strong statistically, but the 6-foot-2 forward has started 32 of 33 games and scored 8.8 points in 21.5 minutes. But after scoring in double figures twice in the final 10 regular season games, Strong found her groove in the MAAC tournament.
Strong scored in double figures in all three games, averaging 15.3 points and seven rebounds to be named to the all-tournament team. She led the Purple Eagles with a career-high 20 points against Quinnipiac in the quarterfinals and then led the team with 14 points and nine rebounds against Fairfield in the final.
“Changing my mindset about everything and also my relationship with God and how that just ties into it,” Strong said. “He gave me a purpose to be here, like he put me in this position to be here, and instead of looking at it in a negative way, it’s more like ‘OK, why do you have me here? What kind of impact do you want me to have at the school?’ Basically giving my 100% for him.”
Pierce saw potential with Strong, especially since her up-tempo team was lacking size. She was also the next person on the O’Hara-Niagara transit line that has included Angel Parker, Aaliyah Parker, Nickelle O’Neil, Jade Rutledge and continues with guard Jordyn Williams next year.
But she also saw a player not working to her potential, not quite strong enough to bang around in the post at the Division I level yet and not in good enough shape to keep up with Niagara’s up and down pace.
Strong listened and improved her conditioning and went to the weight room. Now she is mobile enough to guard the length of the court in Niagara’s Hurricane Havoc full-court press, and after playing more than 10 minutes seven times last year, Strong has played less than 10 once this year, including 36 minutes against Fairfield Saturday.
“She was not working hard enough and doing the little things that she needed to do,” Pierce said. “And she decided after last season — because she didn’t like that she didn’t play a lot — in order for her to get more playing time, she knew what she needed to do. She was specifically told what she needed to do and credit to her, she went and worked on her game.”
Strong’s game is unique on Niagara’s roster, and when she is involved in the offense, she brings another element. She is the one player on the roster that can catch the ball in the paint and score.
When the Parker sisters were battling injuries early in the season, Strong scored in double figures six times in the first 11 games after scoring no more than four points in a game last season. It took some time to find her place in the offense once the team became completely healthy, but has started to settle in.
She has proven to be relentless on the offensive glass, leading the MAAC with 94 offensive rebounds and she is finding her touch on put-backs. Strong shot 61.3% during the MAAC tournament after shooting 40.2% during the regular season.
“We want the post to run the floor, too, because you can get buckets that way, especially if we’re starting to break off a defensive rebound,” Pierce said. “We can get her running and running the middle of the floor and hitting her in stride, which you’ve seen a little bit of in the tournament, but you want to have an inside presence because when it comes down to it.”