Imagine entering your senior year and deciding to take one of the biggest leaps in your career: transferring schools. Although many athletes hesitate at the thought, senior guard Hannah Outlaw embraced the idea with open arms and decided to move to Saint Mary’s for her final year of eligibility.
Outlaw, who had successful careers at Glen Oaks (2021-23) and Aquinas (2024), has had an immediate impact on the Belles’ stats book, sitting second in field goal percentage, total rebounds and steals, while coming in fourth for points on the team. During the team’s 76-67 victory over Olivet on Jan. 7, Outlaw had seven steals, a performance that she called her “most memorable.” She said the game “proved how hard [she] worked on defense and how the defense was feeding the offense.” Aside from showing how strong a defender she is, Outlaw had her best offensive game against Anderson on Nov. 25, with 22 points and 11 rebounds. “Once you see a shot go in, you’ll gain the confidence to keep shooting,” she said.
Throughout the three programs Outlaw has been a part of, each has shaped her skill sets in new ways. During her time at Glen Oaks, Outlaw said she was “battling outside battles and used basketball to take [her] mind away.” However, she faced a PCL injury that caused her to take time off, and once she returned, she was “in survival mode, playing each game like it was [her] last.” During her journey at Aquinas, Outlaw rarely saw the court, but she said she “used every opportunity to focus on [her] defense.” Saint Mary’s was Outlaw’s next step, as it was close to home and provided a sisterhood that helped her thrive. This season, Outlaw is working hard to have an impact on her younger teammates.
Outlaw said she is choosing to be a leader on the team and is not afraid to be vocal about the team’s strengths or weaknesses. Despite Outlaw serving a serious mentor for the younger women on the team, she admits she and her teammates are “very giggly people,” and although they stay serious during games, they also allow themselves to have fun by laughing, dancing and joking when they have the opportunity.
This year, Outlaw has dealt with injuries, which has been an adjustment. She started the preseason with a knee injury, sat out the first few games with a concussion, strained her hamstring and recently injured her back. Outlaw believes that recovering from these injuries has helped keep her mind strong during difficult times.
Outlaw has consistently balanced school, sports and even jobs, while maintaining a permanent spot in the stats page. However, she says that players’ mental games may be the strongest thing on their resumes.
