DES MOINES -- Three seniors – Becca Hittner, Sara Rhine and Brenni Rose – have helped lift Drake women's basketball to one of the greatest eras in program history.

With that trio leading the way, the Bulldogs have won three-straight Missouri Valley Conference regular-season titles for the first time in program history. Drake has a chance this season to qualify for its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament, which would be another first in school history. With 100 wins and counting in the last four seasons, this senior class has a chance to break the program record for wins in a four-year span (106 from 1979-82).

Hittner and Rhine provide the scoring punch that powers Drake's potent offense. Hittner led the Valley with 19.7 points per game last season, and Rhine finished second with 18.3. In doing so, the talented duo became the second set of teammates in conference history to finish first and second in the Valley in scoring. They're on pace to accomplish that feat again this season.

Earlier this year, Rhine became the ninth MVC player to score 2,000 points in her career. On Feb. 13 against Evansville, Hittner became the 10th player. Hittner and Rhine are the first set of Valley teammates to cross the 2,000-point barrier in the same season.

They owe some of their scoring prowess to Rose, who leads the Valley in assists per game (5.0). Her passing is a major reason Drake ranks seventh in the country in points per game (82.5) and first in assists per game (22.3). Over Rose's four years, the lowest the Bulldogs have finished nationally in assists per game is fourth.

Hittner, Rhine and Rose have enabled Drake to reach incredible heights. What is the biggest reason for their success?

"I think the neat thing about this group is that they value being in the journey together and enjoying the times they have with each other," said Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk. "Sometimes you get too focused on getting better and better, and you forget to enjoy the process and stay in the moment. They've done a great job of focusing on pure enjoyment. I love the way we celebrate each other. That is a culture that has been passed down from every class. We have a unique way of valuing each other at a high level, and success will find you if that's how you're doing it."

Success found Hittner, Rhine and Rose from the moment they stepped on campus and won a program-record 28 games, but it hasn't always been easy. Rhine, a redshirt senior, is a year older than Hittner and Rose. She was granted a fifth year of eligibility after sitting out the majority of the 2016-17 season – Hittner and Rose's freshman year – with an injury.

"It's just a marathon that you have to go through," Rhine said. "It has its ups and downs, but it was cool seeing the team grow and having a different perspective and role. It's helped me have a greater appreciation for the game, for my teammates and this university."

Rhine's on-court accomplishments speak for themselves – MVC Freshman of the Year, two-time MVC Sixth Player of the Year and two-time MVC First-Team selection – but her most impressive achievements have come in the classroom and in the community.

Rhine was honored as the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2018 and 2019. She is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, including a first-team nod in 2019. Rhine graduated with a 4.0 GPA in elementary education and is currently enrolled in Drake's master's of counseling program. Her impact is felt in the community, too, as Rhine has been a part of more than 5,000 hours of community service in her time as a Bulldog.

Hittner, a Des Moines native, also feels a strong connection with the community.

"I think it's really cool that I was able to stay close to home and play in my hometown," Hittner said. "My friends and family come to every game, and every time I go up in the stands after the game, it's really cool to see all the support that I have. Being from Des Moines, you know how special it is. It's really cool to see Des Moines take on Drake as the hometown team and give it the support it deserves."

Hittner has given fans plenty to root for. A three-time MVC First-Team selection, Hittner has also twice been named the Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year. She has a chance to become just the third player ever to win the award three times.

Like Rhine, Hittner has remarkable off-the-court accomplishments. She has twice been named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team, and she was a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2019.

"Becca has always been a great student," Baranczyk said. "I think she came in very quiet, and now you can tell she's just more confident. Obviously, on the basketball court, she's done an incredible job, but it's so much more than that in terms of growing into who she is."

Rose echoes that same sentiment in reflecting on her time at Drake, saying that being a part of the basketball team has taught her lessons about life.

"So much of our system is based on our decisions," Rose said. "The players on the floor make every read, and that helps you grow. It's less holding your hand and more making us figure it out fast, and that translates to off the basketball court. It helps me go for things and have confidence and be a leader in life."

This senior class is as decorated as any to pass through Drake, but it's still searching for an NCAA Tournament victory to add to its lengthy resumé.

"I think for this group, our goal is making that run in the NCAA Tournament," Rose said. "We've been able to get there, but we haven't gotten over that hump. We're trying to get better every day and have a lot of fun. We want to leave the program better than it was when we got here, so we're trying to lead and set that example for the younger girls so they can continue it when we're gone."

Through their exemplary efforts on and off the court, Becca Hittner, Sara Rhine and Brenni Rose have done just that.