ST. LOUIS - Ricky Hurley of Southern Illinois and Sara Rhine of Drake have been selected Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Week, presented by Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today. The two athletes were honored for their performances during the period of February 5-11.
To qualify for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, 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.
Redshirt freshmen and first-year junior college transfers are not eligible. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes are evaluated on their athletic performance during the one-week period.
Ricky Hurley, Southern Illinois, Jr., Track and Field, Management, 3.34 GPA
Ricky Hurley set lifetime-bests in both the shot put and the weight throw at the Music City Challenge for the Salukis. Hurley began the weekend with a sixth-place finish in the weight throw after he uncorked the ninth-longest throw in Southern Illinois history at 64’-7.50” (19.69m). In doing so, he became just the second Saluki thrower with top-10 marks in both the indoor shot put and the weight throw. The Fox River Grove, Ill. native followed with a lifetime-best toss of 59’-7” (18.16m) in the shot put to take seventh. Hurley now ranks second in the MVC, and 40th nationally, in the shot put and is currently fourth in the Valley in the weight throw.
Sara Rhine, Drake, Jr., Basketball, Elementary Education, 4.00 GPA
Drake junior Sara Rhine averaged 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting 73.7 percent (14-of-19) from the floor, including making 3-of-4 from behind the arc to help Drake win at Evansville and Indiana State. Rhine started the weekend with a game-high 19 points on a 7-of-8 shooting night, four rebounds and one block in a 101-50 win over the Purple Aces. She followed that performance against the Sycamores with her fifth double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 7-for-11 from the field. This season, she is averaging 15.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, which ranks second and tied for fifth, respectively, in the MVC. Rhine is leading the MVC in field goal percentage at 57.5 percent.
About Enterprise Bank and Trust Company
Enterprise Bank & Trust was founded nearly 30 years ago on the idea of serving the lifetime financial needs of privately-held businesses, their owner families and other success-minded individuals. That concept for Enterprise Bank & Trust has remained its unwavering and guiding vision. Enterprise Bank and Trust tailors its services to fit the needs of our clients and has all the capabilities of the largest financial companies with the personal relationship orientation of a community bank. Enterprise Bank and Trust offers a comprehensive array of banking, trust and financial advisory services. Member FDIC.