Women's Basketball: Rhine named MVC player of the week

DES MOINES - Drake redshirt senior forward Sara Rhine was named the Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball player of the week, the league announced Monday.

Rhine (Eldon High School) finished with game-highs of 23 points and nine rebounds Sunday in the Bulldogs' 86-81 home win against Iowa State. In last Friday's season-opening 74-67 win against South Dakota State, Rhine also had a game-high 25 points with seven rebounds and two blocked shots for the Bulldogs.

Through three games, Rhine is averaging 23.7 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Bulldogs, leading the team in both categories. She is shooting 72.1 percent (31-of-43) from the field (4-of-7 from 3-point range) and is 5-of-6 at the free-throw line.

This is Rhine's 10th career MVC player of the week honor, receiving it three times in 2017-18 and six times last season. She was also the MVC newcomer of the week five times as a true freshman during the 2015-16 season.

Drake (2-1), which lost 102-94 in overtime to South Dakota on Wednesday, hosts Creighton on Saturday.