Amherst, N.Y. - Senior standout Sarah Saba (Lancaster, N.Y.), who put together one of the finest careers in the history of the Daemen College women's basketball program, is taking her talents overseas where she'll continue her career at the professional level. The 6-foot guard has inked her first professional contract, agreeing to join BBC Grengewald Hueschtert, a club based out of Niederanven, Luxembourg, for the 2018-19 season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. BBC Grengewald Hueschtert is one of 10 teams that competes in Luxembourg's Total League.
"I am very excited to be signing my first professional contract," said Saba. "I am so grateful for this opportunity, and for the support of family, friends and the Daemen community that has helped me get to this point."
Saba appeared in all 110 games over the past four seasons for the Wildcats, including 106 as a starter. She totaled 1,774 points (16.1 ppg), 770 rebounds (7.0 rpg), 234 assists, 157 blocks and 157 steals, and is just the third player in program history with at least 1,700 points, 700 rebounds and 150 blocks. Saba ranks fifth in career points, seventh in career scoring average, seventh in career rebounds, tenth in career rebound average and sixth in career blocks among Daemen's all-time leaders. A three-time first team All-East Coast Conference selection, Saba reached double-figure scoring in 96 of her 110 games played.
This past season was perhaps her finest as she led the Wildcats (12-17, 9-9 ECC) to their first conference tournament berth since transitioning to NCAA Division II and the East Coast Conference. She closed out the season as Daemen's leader in minutes played (977), points (517), rebounds (203), steals (52) and blocks (38). She became the first player in program history to lead the team in total points for four straight seasons, and also the first player in team history to lead in points, rebounds, blocks and steals twice during a career. She finished the regular season as the East Coast Conference's scoring leader, averaging 17.7 points per game, and was the first Daemen player to surpass 500 points in a season since Sarah Soroka scored a program-record 755 in 2010-11. In addition to her all-conference honors, Saba was named a second team All-East Region honoree by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association.
"In my first discussions with Sarah after coming to Daemen, it was clear that she had set a goal to play professionally overseas after her college career," said Daemen head coach Jenepher Banker, who recently completed her second season with the program. "What I saw after that was someone who was deeply committed to achieving that goal, and with her signing today that's exactly what she's done. I am so happy to see Sarah have the opportunity to continue her career at the professional level."
Saba becomes the third player in program history to sign a professional contract, joining former Daemen greats Soroka and Monica Kosior. Soroka played one season for Montijo Banda Basket of Portugual's Pro A League, and Kosior player for C.S. Universitatea Cluj Napoca in Romania'a Liga Nationala.
Saba will join a BBC Grengewald Hueschtert team that has posted a 9-17 so far this season, with a roster that includes American players Morgan Pullins (St. Mary's-TX) and Cori Coleman (Cleveland State). Pullins, also a product of an NCAA Division II program, leads the team and ranks third in the Total League in scoring, averaging 22.2 points per game. The team's season runs from September through April.
Saba will also graduate this May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion.
Provided by the Daemen Sports Information Department.
