City of Basketball Love

Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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UNIVERSITY CITY — Drexel was on its last legs early in overtime against Penn State on Sunday afternoon.

The Dragons trailed the Nittany Lions by four — their largest deficit of the game — and graduate guard Keishana Washington couldn’t find an ounce of space after scoring a program-record 42 points in regulation. 

Then senior Hetta Saatman found herself open beyond the 3-point line. The 6-foot-2 forward with just two prior 3-point makes in her career let one fly from deep … and buried it.

“I was just ready,” Saatman said. “And honestly after that shot went in, I knew we were winning the game. I think my teammates, everybody was  like, ‘Yea, this is it. We’re going to take this win home today.’”

The shot started a string of seven straight points for Saatman and nine consecutive points for Drexel that flipped a four-point deficit into a five-point lead and helped the Dragons knock off Penn State 86-82 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Along with Washington’s career-high 42 points on Sunday, Saatman added a career-high 14 on 5-of-5 shooting and fifth-year guard Maura Hendrixson also chipped in 11 points and played 43 minutes of the victory. 

Hendrixson and Washington have played big roles throughout their Drexel career, but Saatman’s career-night and clutch performance were a highlight of an increased role she’s taking on in her senior campaign.

She came to Drexel from Linden Hall High School in Lititz, Pa. four years ago, knowing it would take some time for her to factor into the Dragons’ rotation. Her goal since Day 1 was to bring energy and communication no matter what role was in store.

She saw action in just seven games as a deep reserve as a freshman. As a sophomore she played in 16 games, including seven starts and averaged 3.1 ppg and 2.7 rpg. When Hendrixson went down with an injury, she stepped into the starting lineup during Drexel’s run to a CAA title and NCAA tournament. However, last season she was back in a reserve role averaging just six minutes per game off the bench in 23 contests.

“For me personally, I knew coming into Drexel it’s a really good program,” said Saatman, whose mother was a swimmer for the Dragons. “I knew that I probably wasn’t going to be saying playing time my freshman year just based on the other schools I was being recruited from and that this was a really hard program to compete in. I knew that I had to work hard to get to the place that I am today. It was really staying true to the process of just working hard everyday and by going to every practice thinking, ‘I’m going to leave everything I can on the floor.’”

This offseason was different, however, as no one other than Washington or Hendrixson had a lot of experience under their belts. Drexel had four starters to replace, along with the production they brought to the table.

Saatman has started in all 10 games, averaging 7.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.7 bpg. Her 14 points on Sunday nearly matched the 17 she scored as a junior last season. She’s gone for double digits three other times this season.

“We lost some really key players last season who contributed a lot for this team, so there were minutes up for grabs this year,” Saatman said. “It really was being confident and having the confidence that my coaches give me and my other teammates give me. Our environment here is so great and so confident that everybody builds you up. They make you see things in yourself that maybe you didn’t even know were there.”

“It’s so exciting,” Drexel coach Amy Mallon said. “Hetta is one of the hardest working players on our team and we talk about how we develop our players over the years and I think she’s the perfect example of our development. “

Drexel (7-3) led by as many as 17 points in the first half on Sunday before Penn State (8-4) ended the second quarter with five straight points and continued that run to start the third quarter with two straight threes, pulling within six, 41-35 early in the frame.

Penn State, which was led by senior guard Makenna Marisa (28 points), rallied all the way back and took its first lead of the second half, 63-62, on a three by Leilanie Kapinus (13 points) with 6:33 to play. Washington answered with a three immediately and no more than three points separated the squads through the end of regulation. 

Washington tied the game 76-76 on a pair of free throws with 55 seconds left. Her potential game-winner in the final seconds  didn’t go. Junior forward Chloe Hodges grabbed the board and was fouled with 3.2 seconds left but missed a pair of free throws. 

Saatman thwarted PSU’s attempt to win the game, blocking a shot by Marisa as time expired to send the contest into OT. She added four steals to her statline as well.

“She’s doing a lot of these things you don’t even see and today she stepped up and scored for us,” Mallon said. “I think she’s going to continue in that right direction and that’s exactly what we need her to do. Like what she did today, she’s capable of doing so it’s not a surprise, but I’m excited to see that just for her because she works. She’s a worker and I think her work is definitely paying off.”

The overtime period is where Saatman shined. 

Saatman knocked down her big three with 2:44 left in the overtime period, pulling Drexel within one, 84-83. Freshman guard Grace O’Neill (nine points) found her inside on the next possession to put Drexel ahead. 

Two possessions later Washington found her in the interior once again. After Washington assisted on Hodges lay-up with 41 seconds left, the Dragons lead had grown to 85-80.

“I’ve seen Hetta from a freshman to now and where she started at and where she is now,” Washington said. “I think she’s had a huge growth and so I’m happy to see that. Shooting the three, that’s an ultimate confidence shot to be taking in overtime and it was definitely a game-changer, put us down one when Penn State went on a run. I’m so proud of her. She’s put in the work and we’re going to see the results.”

Saatman’s played a part in and been a witness to a lot of winning in her time at Drexel. Now, stepping into a more featured role, she hopes to continue that success.

“I’ve been really lucky in my seasons here that we’ve had very successful years,” Saatman said. “My sophomore year is when we went to the NCAA Tournament and we won the CAA tournament. That was an amazing experience. I was able to contribute a lot in the time that we did do that. From that, I know what it feels like, and I remember winning the CAA Tournament and being on the floor. It was one of the best feelings in the world. I’m doing everything I can just to get us back there.”