ST. LOUIS – Redshirt sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) of the Drake University women's basketball team has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week presented by Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, MVC commissioner Doug Elgin announced Wednesday, Feb. 14 morning.
 
It is the fifth MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week award for Rhine this season and a league-leading 18 for a Drake student-athlete in 2017-18. She was honored for her performance during the period of Feb. 5-11. Rhine, who owns a 4.00 cumulative grade point average in elementary education, was recognized by the Valley for her play on the court by being named MVC Player of the Week on Monday.
 
Coming off the bench, Rhine averaged 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 73.9 percent (14-of-19) from the floor, including making 3-of-4 (75.0 percent) from behind the arc to help Drake win at Evansville and Indiana State. She started the weekend against Evansville with a game-high 19 points on a 7-of-8 shooting night to go with four rebounds and one block in just 16 minutes. Rhine followed that performance against the Sycamores with her fifth double-double this year with 16 points and 11 rebounds. She made 7-of-11 shots, added one block and nabbed one steal in 20 minutes.
 
This season, Rhine is averaging 15.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, which ranks second and tied for fifth, respectively, in the MVC. She leads the MVC in field goal percentage at 57.5 percent. Rhine has been MVC Player of the Week three times this year.
 
To qualify for MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors, 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.
 
Rhine and her teammates visit UNI Friday, Feb. 16 with tipoff with the Panthers set for 7 p.m. The in-state rivalry game is the MVC's Game of the Week on ESPN3.
 
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
Jan. 31 – Sara Rhine, Women's Basketball
Feb. 7 – Reed Timmer, Men's Basketball
Feb. 7 – Maddy Dean, Women's Basketball
Feb. 14 – Sara Rhine, Women's Basketball