Unlike many of her teammates, whose paths to the USD women's basketball team span distances as short as freeway exits, Sabine Loewe took a path that spanned an entire ocean.
But the German native hasn't let that stop her from becoming a better basketball player far from home.
"It makes me feel good knowing I can handle school and basketball," said Loewe, a 6-foot-4 sophomore center. "It's worked out perfectly."
Loewe played on Germany's Under-18 and U-20 junior national teams, winning three European championships.
"I just wanted to try something new," Loewe said. "In Germany, I played five years with the same team and I was just over it. It was a perfect opportunity for me to do something totally different."
Without having even visited the United States, Loewe decided to accept a scholarship to play basketball at USD, which her family was unhappy about at first.
Loewe, though, was determined to make the most of the opportunity.
"Now," said Loewe, who is close to her parents and her older brother, "they're really happy and proud because they see that I'm happy."
On the court, Loewe had to adjust to a faster-paced game less focused on fundamentals.
"It's way more athletic and intense, and much stronger" she said. "That was a huge difference. (By contrast,) the level of skills is much higher in Europe."
Off the court, Loewe was surprised at how unhealthy Americans' eating habits were and had trouble making sense of common colloquialisms.
Loewe slowly got used to it all with the help of her teammates.
"It didn't take long for me to adjust and get into the groove because of the girls," said Loewe, a history major who speaks four languages. "I had 10 players I knew I could go to, and they always helped me."
Those teammates, as well as the coaching staff, have played huge roles in Loewe's growth.
One of a handful of players capable of playing the post position last season, Loewe admits she was comfortable being a role player averaging fewer than 10 minutes a game.
But that mentality changed in the offseason, with Loewe knowing she would be the only returning center playing alongside freshman Amber Sprague.
That motivated her to spend hours in the offseason working with associate head coach Erik Johnson. She also found herself more committed to her strength and conditioning.
This season, Loewe has moved into the starting lineup, more than doubling her minutes, averaging just under 26, and contributing in scoring (7.3 points per game) and rebounding (5.0).
"(Working with Johnson) helped me a lot," Loewe said. "And the style of how (Amber and Loewe) play is different. That's why we can play together really well."
Loewe misses having family members in the stands or a familiar place to go home to for the weekend. But she has found a family in the Toreros, who have introduced her to batting cages and are always willing to take in a movie.
Loewe, who has even tried surfing, hopes to find the time to take in a major league baseball and a pro football game in person and visit San Francisco.
She is especially looking forward to this summer, when she returns to Germany with the USD team.
"It means so much for me to show my old team that I have a new team and that I made it," said Loewe, who sees herself returning to Europe after graduation. "It's good for (the Toreros) to see how I live. It's a different life, and I want them to see how it is, to meet my family. I'm so excited."
