Beginning her college basketball career at Joliet Junior College, Kelly Pero wasn’t sure what to expect, from the speed of the game to the level of competition to the necessary knowledge of the game.

After completing her two-year career by being named a Division III junior college first team All-American and leading the team to third place in the NJCAA national tournament, it’s fair to say she exceeded even her own expectations.

And she proved she is ready for the next level, earning a scholarship to the University of St. Francis, also in Joliet.

“I just came in with a positive attitude,” said Pero, who graduated from Hobart after transferring from Merrillville. “I had a wonderful coach (Tony Giese), and I couldn’t ask for better teammates. I was in the gym all the time to polish up my skills, and it came together. I couldn’t have asked for a better two years at Joliet.”

As a freshman, Pero averaged 17.3 points and 5.5 assists, eighth in the nation, and led the nation with 54 3-pointers made, earning third team All-American honors. As a sophomore, the 5-foot-6 guard then was named a preseason first team All-American, and lived up to the billing, making the All-American first team.

Pero averaged 20.2 points, fifth in the nation, with a national-best 708 points; shot 45.7 percent from 3-point range, also fifth in the nation, with a national-best 85 3-pointers made; shot 74.4 percent from the foul line, 13th in the nation, with a national-best 177 free throws made; and averaged 4.3 assists, 20th in the nation. She added 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals.