Drake’s Sara Rhine Has Become One Of The Country’s Top Forwards
Sara Rhine, a 6-foot-1 redshirt junior forward from Eldon, Mo., made a name for herself in her first year at Drake University, winning the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year. After an injury forced her to sit out most of the 2016–17 season, Rhine came back even better in her redshirt sophomore season one year ago.
This season she has taken her game to a new level, and the rest of the basketball world has begun to take notice. Rhine was named to the All-MVC Preseason First Team along with teammate Becca Hittner. Rhine closed out the 2017–18 season on high note. She posted a 21-point, 10-rebound performance against Texas A&M in Drake’s first round NCAA Tournament loss the then-No. 14 Aggies. Rhine showed off her efficiency, shooting an incredible 10-of-11 from the field in 28 minutes of action.
Rhine received national recognition this offseason when she was named to the 20-player watch list for the 2019 Katrina McClain Award. The award is given to the nation’s top power forwards, and the watch list includes the likes of Napheesa Collier, Kianna Ibis and Anriel Howard.
Earlier this season, Rhine went head-to-head with CSUN’s Channon Fluker, the NCAA’s all-time active leader in rebounds and double-doubles. Rhine dropped 24 points and grabbed eight boards in the Bulldogs’ win, proving she was a force to be reckoned with.
Rhine followed up that gritty performance by averaging 20.3 points and five rebounds per game in the Vancouver Showcase, a tournament that included wins over Rutgers and South Carolina. On the season, she is averaging 18.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in just 23 minutes per game.
Drake currently sits at 8–2 this season with wins over four Power 5 schools, including the previously mentioned wins against Rutgers and South Carolina. They hit a bit of a hiccup in their loss at South Dakota State but Rhine still scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting. For a more complete overview of the Bulldogs’ season outlook, you can read our Drake season preview below.
Rhine’s dominance didn’t appear out of thin air once she arrived in Des Moines. She was a multi-sport athlete in high school, competing in basketball and track. By the time she graduated from Eldon High School, she was named a Miss Basketball Missouri finalist after averaging 32.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in her senior season. She was also a four-time state champion in the high jump and placed third in the long jump and 100-meter hurdles at state in her senior year.
An elementary education major, Rhine was intrigued by Drake’s “high-quality education.” For the native of Eldon, the campus felt like home. The campus of just over 3,000 students was an easy transition from her hometown, which had a population of about 4,500. Rhine knew the team had hit some rough times in the early 2010’s, but the program was trending up with a talented core of young players. Rhine’s previously mentioned MVC Freshman of the Year award was the third consecutive time a Bulldog had taken home the award. Current Drake senior guard Maddy Dean won it the previous season, and eventual AP All-American Honorable Mention Lizzy Wendell was the recipient in 2013–14.
Early in her career, she was used as a role player in an already great rotation. She has come off the bench in most of her time at Drake and played a very safe style of basketball. Post up, get the ball, shoot within 10 feet of the basket, and most likely make the shot.
As a freshman, she averaged 1.36 points per scoring attempt which was third in all of the NCAA. Her usage rate was a modest 25.3 percent, which means that she wasn’t getting the ball in scoring or assist heavy situations, but when she did get the ball she had a good chance to score. By her redshirt sophomore season, her usage rate had risen to 30.1 percent, which was 83rd in the nation. With the rise in usage rate came an expected dip in scoring efficiency, but her points per scoring attempt, which dropped by just 0.06, was still in the top 25 in the country.
This season her usage rate rose to 34.6 percent, and her PPSA dipped to 1.22, still good for the top 10 percent in the NCAA. What makes those stats even more impressive is the increase in talent level Rhine has battled with compared to last season.
One of the most improved parts of her game is her mid-range and outside shooting. Last season Rhine showcased an unstoppable baseline jumper, and this season her three-point shooting has been a pleasant surprise. At 41.2 percent, Rhine has already made as many three-pointers as she made in her entire freshman season.
She has shown improvements in other areas as well. On the glass, her offensive rebounding rate is lower than it was last season, but that is because she doesn’t just play inside anymore. Her defensive rebounding rate has jumped from 19.3 percent in 2017–18, to 27.9 percent this season. That rate is good for 43rd in the country and her improvement is a big reason Drake’s team defensive rebounding rate has risen.
Rhine’s numbers will likely only go up as conference play begins. Unlike a Power 5 school, Drake’s schedule difficulty will drop noticeably compared to the gauntlet that has been their first month and a half. But first, No. 16 Iowa will make a trip to the Knapp Center on Dec. 21. Rumor has it, Rebecca Lobo may be in attendance for that battle of Iowa’s best.
All stats are compiled from the Drake women’s basketball website and Her Hoop Stats. Stats include only games against Division I opponents. If you like this content, please support our work at Her Hoop Stats by subscribing for just $20 a year.
