PLNU Women's Basketball alumna Haylee Saurette is taking her talents overseas, having signed professionally with the Cardiff Met Archers in the Women's British Basketball League.
 
"We are so excited for Haylee and this next step in her basketball journey," Point Loma Head Coach Charity Elliott said. "She has worked so hard to make this dream of playing professional basketball a reality and we couldn't be prouder of her."
 
Saurette said she is happy that all her hard work has paid off playing a game that she loves.
 
"What stands out to me about this journey is that I have always played because I enjoy the game," Saurette said. "I was never forced to race off to a practice or put-up extra shots in the gym. I genuinely love being around basketball in any setting, whether it be working summer camps, keeping score at tournaments or teaching little kiddos back home.
 
"For me, this has always made taking the next step easy. I hope I continue to find that same enjoyment in my next home in Cardiff, Wales."
 

Congratulations to Haylee Saurette for signing a pro contract with the Cardiff Archers! Your PLNU family is so proud of you! 💚💛 https://t.co/iKDgUEsLz4 pic.twitter.com/TwUpVAZBh1

— Point Loma WBB (@PLNU_WBB) July 21, 2023

In 2022-23, Saurette led Point Loma in scoring (14.4 points per game) and rebounding (7.7 rebounds per game), marking the third-straight season she averaged double-digit scoring and over seven rebounds per game.
 
Her performances earned her Second Team All-PacWest honors during a year in which she joined the 1,000 Point Club for her Sea Lions career.
 
"She has added so much to her game and her ability to score in multiple ways is going to make her unstoppable at the next level," Elliott said. "Plus, her basketball IQ will help her tremendously with whatever she faces on the floor."
 
Saurette showcased a knack for coming up in the clutch, scoring the go-ahead basket against Concordia on Feb. 11 with 7.4 seconds remaining in a 56-55 win.
 
She then made two game-tying reverse layups in the final 13 seconds of regulation in the first round of the PacWest Championships against Biola on March 2. The second one came with just 0.9 on the clock, sending the game to overtime, with PLNU eventually winning 67-61.
 
That postseason performance came after the forward saved one of her best performances of the season for her final home game inside Golden Gymnasium, scoring a season-high 27 points to earn herself PacWest Player of the Week honors.
 
"While she won't be wearing a PLNU jersey while she's out there, she will be representing us always and I'm excited to watch her succeed and live out her dreams," Elliott said.
 
Saurette finishes her Sea Lions career ranked eighth in program history in rebounds (790) and 10th in 3-pointers made (143).
 
"Point Loma helped me develop the work ethic and mindset that I needed to continue to push myself to become the player I am today, as well as the player I strive to be in the future," Saurette said. "All the people surrounding me at Point Loma from the coaches, athletic training staff, teammates, all the way to the professors have helped me reach this goal by pushing me to be the best version of myself and pushing me to really step into who I am as an individual.
 
"There aren't enough thank you's for everyone who has impacted me the last five years at Loma, but I did not do it alone."