Drake's Sara Rhine averaged 23.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in home wins over Indiana State and Evansville, earning her second MVC Player of the Week honor of the season and her career. Missouri State freshman Brice Calip averaged 13.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game as the Lady Bears earned a pair of road wins over Bradley and Illinois State, earning her first Newcomer of the Week honor.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Sara Rhine, So., F, Drake
Drake sophomore Sara Rhine helped the Bulldogs earn home wins over Indiana State and Evansville to sit alone in first place in the MVC. Rhine averaged 23.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steal 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, and she made 6-of-7 free throws, and added 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. She followed that effort with another near double-double with 22 points and eight rebounds against Evansville. Rhine made 9-of-14 shots and added two blocks.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Brice Calip, Fr., G, Missouri State
Missouri State freshman Brice Calip averaged 13 points on 63 percent shooting overall and 60 percent from 3-point land, adding 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in a pair of road wins. Sunday, Calip shot 6-for-9 from the floor for a career-high 16 points, with six boards, two assists and three steals in a victory at Bradley. Friday at Illinois State, Calip shot 4-for-7 overall and 2-for-4 from long range, finishing with 10 points, three assists, two rebounds and a blocked shot at Illinois State.
Noteworthy - In addition to the league's player and newcomer of the week selections, several conference players had notable performances, and they include:
Anneke Schlueter (BRAD) - Schlueter averaged a team-best 16.0 points per game, while shooting 46% from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range and collected 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals in Bradley’s first two home Valley games of the year. She helped Bradley rally from 15 points down against Southern Illinois to take a lead in the final minute with 14 points and three steals off the bench. Schlueter was 2-for-5 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line against the Salukis. Sunday against Missouri State, she tied for game-high honors with a season-best 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Schlueter also had a career-best nine rebounds and added a block and two steals against the Bears as she moved into a tie for 23rd in career scoring at Bradley.
Megan Talbot (ILS) - Megan captured her first career double-double of the season in the 49-46 victory over SIU on Sunday with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Over the weekend, Talbot put up a combined 18 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks.
Wendi Bibbins (INS) - Wendi Bibbins averaged 14.0 ppg while averaging 33.0 minutes of action … Tallied 19 total rebounds, 3 blocks and 4 steals … Brought down 8 offensive boards against unbeaten Drake … Also tallied a double-double against Drake (18 points, 10 rebounds).
Abby O’Connor (LUC) - Loyola freshman Abby O’Connor led all scorers in the Ramblers clash with Valparaiso on Friday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center, pouring in 16 points. Fresh off earning MVC Newcomer of the Week honors last Monday, the South Bend, Ind. product reached double figures in scoring for a team-best ninth time while also collecting six rebounds, the top mark for a Rambler, dishing out an assist and recording a season-high tying three blocks. O’Connor currently leads the Loyola roster in both scoring (10.6 ppg), rebounding (5.5 rpg) and blocks (1.2 bpg).
Megan Maahs (UNI) - Maahs played a crucial role in both UNI wins over the weekend, with the Panthers downing Evansville and Indiana State. Against the Purple Aces, Maahs scored four points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while also earning a career-high five blocks to lead the defensive charge. Against the Sycamores, Maahs earned her eighth double-double of the season after scoring 12 points and earning 13 rebounds, the sophomore also dished out three assists and recorded three steals to fill out the stat sheet. Maahs also came up clutch against Indiana State, by sinking two free throws with under 30 seconds to play, giving the Panthers a three-point cushion.
Dani Franklin (VALPO) - Had 14 points in Valpo’s only game of the week, a 76-60 home win over Loyola on Friday night. Moved into second on the school’s all-time scoring list and became just the second player in program history to reach 1,500 career points. Finished one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards. Was one of five Valpo players in double figures in the victory.
Gabi Haack (BRAD) - Haack averaged 11.5 points, and a team-best 6.0 rebounds in the first two home MVC games of her career. She was 8-for-14 from the field (57.1 percent), including 5-of-9 from three-point range (55.6 percent). Haack was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc against Southern Illinois, finishing with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes of action as she helped Bradley rally from 15 points down to take a lead in the final minute. She followed it up with 12 points and nine rebounds Sunday against Missouri State. Haack was 5-of-8 from the field and 2-for-4 from three against the Bears, also adding one block and one steal as she scored in double figures for the third consecutive game. Her 29 three-pointers now rank fourth among Bradley freshman records.
Maddy Monahan (DU) - Maddie Monahan continues to play well in her first season as the starting point guard as she committed just one turnover to seven assists in the two wins. In Drake’s victories, Monahan averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game while shooting 71.4 percent from the floor (5-of-7), 1.000 percent from behind the three-point line (2-of-2) and 1.000 percent from the free throw line (3-of-3). Against Indiana State, she made all three of her shots, handed out three assists with just one turnover and added three rebounds. In the win over the Purple Aces, she scored eight points behind making both of her three-point attempts, and handed out four assists with zero turnovers. In her first season, Monahan is averaging 5.8 points and 3.2 assists per game.
Paige Saylor (ILS) - Paige Saylor led the Redbirds and captured a career high on Friday of 15 points, going 6-for-8 from the field and shooting 100 percent behind the arc. The freshman guard also snuck away with four steals and dished out two assists in the 56-50 loss to Missouri State. Saylor aided the team to their first MVC victory on Sunday adding 10 points, three assists and three rebounds. Saylor sunk a 3-pointer in the last five minutes of the SIU game, that gave the team their first and last lead. Illinois State never looked back and secured a 49-46 victory.
Ty Battle (INS) - Averaged 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds in two games while making one start … Shot 54.5 percent from the floor (6-for-11) … Totaled 3 steals and 1 block.
Karli Rucker (UNI) - Rucker was a key factor coming off the bench in both UNI wins this past weekend, as the Panthers took care of Evansville and Indiana State at home. Against the Purple Aces, Rucker scored nine points, while dishing out four assists and recording a career-high three steals. Rucker followed up Friday’s performance with a five-point outing against the Sycamores on Sunday, while grabbing three rebounds and adding two assists.
Bryce Blood (VALPO) - Posted her second double-double of the season and first against a Division I opponent in Friday’s home win, becoming the first ever Valpo player to turn in a double-double in Missouri Valley Conference play. Racked up 12 points to go along with a team-high 10 rebounds. Owns two of Valpo’s three double-doubles this season.