Lewis University senior forward Sam Rinehart was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for contests played Jan. 21-26, it was announced by the league on Monday.
 
Rinehart had a huge week, averaging 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and shot 80.0 percent from beyond the arc in leading Lewis to a perfect 3-0 week.  Rinehart shot 12-for-23 from the field while making 18-for-24 (75.0 percent) from the free-throw line.
 
At UW-Parkside, Rinehart scored 13 points on 3-for-7 shooting and made 5-for-8 free throws. She also pulled down nine rebounds, shot 2-for-2 from three-point line, and snatched a steal in the contest.  The Marion, Iowa native was near perfect in the Flyers 79-61 against Kentucky Wesleyan, scoring 4-for-4 from the field, 3-for-4 from the stripe, while grabbing eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.  With the win, Lewis (14-3, 7-2) leaped to the spot in the East Division.
 
Rinehart responded on Saturday with a career night earning her first double-double with a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Flyers 71-69 win over No. 23 Southern Indiana.
 
The honor is Rinehart’s first of her career and is the second Flyer to be recognized this season with a GLVC weekly award as teammate Jess Reinhart earned the accolade on Nov. 12, 2012.
 
Lewis is back in action on Thursday when the team travels to take on No. 15 Indianapolis in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.