ST. LOUIS, Mo. – For the third consecutive week, a pair of Bulldog student-athletes have been named Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Week, presented by Enterprise Bank and Trust Company. MVC commissioner Doug Elgin announced today that Drake men's basketball junior Nick McGlynn (Stoughton, Wis.) and Drake women's basketball redshirt-sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) have been honored for their performances during the period of Jan. 8-14.
 
The Drake men's and women's basketball programs have swept the award five times. Overall, Bulldog student-athletes have won the award 14 times in the 2017-18 academic year, more than any other MVC school. Wednesday's honor marks the second MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honor of McGlynn's career and the third for Rhine.
 
Rhine, who was recognized earlier this week as MVC Player of the Week, helped Drake earn a pair of home wins over Indiana State and Evansville to sit alone at the top of the conference standings. Rhine averaged 23.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 56.2 percent from the floor (18-of-32) and 75 percent from the free throw line (9-of-12). In the win over Indiana State, Rhine scored a game-high 22 points behind a 9-of-17 shooting performance as well as making 6-of-7 free throws. She added 10 rebounds to record her fourth double-double of the season. Rhine followed that with another near double-double with 22 points and eight rebounds in just 19 minutes against Evansville. Rhine made 9-of-14 shots and added two blocks. This season, Rhine is averaging a team-best 16.1 points per game, which is the second-best mark in the MVC, while averaging 6.8 rebounds per game and she leads the league in field goal percentage at 56.1. Rhine is an elementary education major who holds a 4.00 GPA.
 
McGlynn led Drake on the week by averaging 17.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 13-of-19. In the win over Evansville, McGlynn scored a career-high 23 points in just 24 minutes. He shot 9-of-10 while making his first eight shots from the field while also adding a career-high three blocks and nine rebounds, just missing his fifth double-double of the season. In the Bulldogs road loss at Valpo, McGlynn recorded 11 points. In MVC games this season, he is averaging 14.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 59.6 percent to rank 11^th in MVC scoring and fourth in rebounding. In the classroom McGlynn has a 3.62 GPA as a media production major.
 
To qualify for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing.
 
Redshirt freshmen and first-year junior college transfers are not eligible. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes are evaluated on their athletic performance during the period.
 
2017-18 Drake Missouri Valley Scholar-Athletes of the Week
Sept. 6 - Josh Yeager - Men's Cross Country
Sept. 13 - Kyle Brandt - Men's Cross Country
Oct. 4 - Kyla Inderski - Volleyball
Nov. 28 - Reed Timmer, Men's Basketball
Nov. 28 - Sara Rhine, Women's Basketball
Dec. 6 - Reed Timmer, Men's Basketball
Dec. 6 - Sara Rhine, Women's Basketball
Dec. 13 - Becca Hittner, Women's Basketball
Jan. 3 - Becca Hittner, Women's Basketball
Jan. 3 – Nick McGlynn, Men's Basketball
Jan. 10 – Becca Hittner, Women's Basketball
Jan. 10 – Reed Timmer, Men's Basketball
Jan. 17 – Sara Rhine, Women's Basketball
Jan. 17 – Nick McGlynn, Men's Basketball