Former Ashland U women's hoops standout Sara Loomis is excelling overseas
Former Ashland University women's basketball standout Sara Loomis is bringing sunshine to the court as a member of the Perry Lakes Hawks in western Australia.
The 2020 AU graduate previously played in Serbia and Slovenia before heading to the "Land Down Under."
"Since I graduated from Ashland in 2020, I have been playing professional basketball overseas," she said. "Once I graduated, I had it in my mind I wanted to continue my basketball career. However, COVID was in full swing, and I was basically just in a waiting game with my manager and teams he was in contact with to see if it was going to work out."
Loomis relied on her faith that a change was about to happen.
"I remember vividly one evening I was in my car right before going into a workout, and I was just praying to God to give me a sign and clarity on what I need to do," she said. "Whether it was to stop pushing wanting to play basketball or pursue teaching, which is what my degree is in. Crazy, but that evening I got a message from a head coach in Serbia that wanted me to come to play for his team. Crazy how God works.
"Thankfully, I was able to get a contract in Serbia my first season, and it went extremely well. I then came home for the summer after playing there and was home until August and went again for nine months to Serbia but to another city and team. Currently, I'm on my third team and playing in Perth, Australia, for the summer. After this summer, I'll head back home for a short break and start my next season in Slovenia."
Loomis is enchanted with playing in Australia.
"I love it,” she said. “I am so thankful to do this as my job right now in my life. I can't thank God enough. I am extremely blessed to do what I love and meet so many incredible people along the way."
Loomis said she enjoys playing with her Perry Lakes Hawks teammates.
"My teammates are great,” she said. “They have welcomed me so well, and I was comfortable right from the start. Perry Lakes is a great program, and the people I'm surrounded by are top-notch. I couldn't say enough good things about this team and the program I'm at."
When asked what her best experiences have been since playing professionally, Loomis took a moment to ponder.
"I have had so many wonderful experiences,” she said. “It's truly hard to say. But overall, I would just say the friendships I have made along the way have been so special to me. I have met amazing people all over the world that I think will be in my life for a long time. Also, just seeing God work is amazing. I have had some teammates ask me about Jesus, and I can't even put into words how special that is."
Like anyone in a new country, Loomis has seen many amazing sights and also has been enjoying the fine cuisine of Australia.
"If you know me, you know how much I love food," she said. "But I am always trying everything, and my teammates know all the good spots, so I just have been eating good. There are too many good spots.”
There's also the fun side of playing professionally and getting to know your teammates, which can often result in a new nickname.
"Over my time overseas so far, I have been given an absurd amount of nicknames," she said. "But currently on the team I'm on now, they just call me Sara or Sars and my coach calls me Lizzie sometimes because I told him my middle name was Elizabeth."
The 6-foot-2 power forward is thriving as a player with the Perry Lakes Hawks, constantly putting in the time to continue to hone her skills.
In 14 games in the Australia State League, Loomis is averaging 11.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in nearly 29 minutes per game.
On July 8, she scored 24 points in a 77-75 loss to Cockburn.
Loomis ended her AU career in the top five in school history in career games played (134), 3-point field goal percentage (44.1), free-throw percentage (84.6) and blocked shots (240). Her 1,476 career points are eighth most in program history.
Loomis was a freshman reserve on AU's NCAA Division II national championship team during the 2016-17 season. She holds the AU record for the highest single-season free throw percentage at 90.1, which she accomplished during her junior season in 2018-19.
That same season she tied the program record for most points in an NCAA playoff game with 32 on March 15, 2019, against Northern Michigan, matching the record held by current AU coach Kari Pickens.
As a senior, she was a Conference Commissioners Association third-team All-American. She also earned two All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first-team selections and was a two-time All-GLIAC Defensive Team pick.
Loomis’ faith has helped inspire and aid her in playing professionally and in meeting new friends in her endeavors.
"My faith is the most important thing in my life,” she said. “I think playing overseas has just made it grow so much more really. Jesus is the firm foundation of my life and who I am. I owe it all to him.
"I think some people think I am a bit crazy leaving my family and traveling around the world to just play basketball. Yeah, I mean, I love basketball, and I am so thankful to get the opportunity to play the game I love, but basketball isn't who I am or defines me. It's just what I currently do."
According to Loomis, God has really worked in her life these past few years to live in faith and walk in his light.
"I think we all have a purpose in life,” she said. “I am so blessed God has given me the opportunity and ability to play the game I love and just meet people and hopefully shine his light in my life. I am nothing without him, and I could just go on and on about it. But just in everything, all glory goes to him forever.”
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland U graduate Sara Loomis is excelling as a pro athlete
