ST. LOUIS – Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) of the Drake University women's basketball team is the first Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week for the 2018-19 season, the MVC office announced Monday, Nov. 12.
 
Coming off the bench, Rhine recorded back-to-back double-doubles in Drake's first two wins over Nebraska and Western Illinois. Rhine averaged 14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 60.0 percent from the floor.
 
She scored 11 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out two assists in 24 minutes in the win over Nebraska. Rhine, the 2018 MVC Sixth Player of the Year and All-MVC First Team selection, followed that with an even more impressive performance against the Leathernecks. She scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had one assist in just 18 minutes in the easy win. This is the fourth MVC Player of the Week award for Rhine in her career.

Rhine and her teammates host South Dakota Thursday, Nov. 15 in the team's home opener. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the opener will be broadcast on ESPN3.