The college basketball season doesn't begin until next month, but two area players have already received preseason accolades.
Southern Illinois senior Nicole Martin and Drake redshirt senior Sara Rhine were two of the five players listed on the Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball preseason all-conference team, the league announced Thursday.
Martin (Jefferson City High School) was named an All-MVC first-team selection last season for the Salukis. She led the team with 14.8 points per game and was second with 7.4 rebounds per contest.
Martin also shot 53.6 percent from the field, which was third-best in the MVC.
For her career, Martin has 1,037 points and 553 rebounds for the Salukis.
Rhine (Eldon High School) was also named to the All-MVC first team last season, helping Drake to its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. She finished second on the Bulldogs with 18.3 points per game and led the team with 8.3 rebounds per contest, ranking second in the MVC in both categories.
Rhine also led the conference with a 61.2 shooting percentage, recording 13 double-doubles in 34 games. During the 2018-19 season, she was named the MVC player of the week five times.
For her career, Rhine has 1,654 points and 755 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Drake was picked to win the MVC in the preseason poll, garnering 31 of the 40 first-place votes. Missouri State was second with eight first-place votes and Northern Iowa was third with one first-place vote.
Bradley and Southern Illinois rounded out the top five in the 10-team conference.
Joining Martin and Rhine on the All-MVC preseason team are Drake senior Becca Hittner, Illinois State senior TeTe Maggett and Northern Iowa junior Karli Rucker.
Hittner, a two-time MVC player of the year, was selected as the preseason MVC player of the year.
Southern Illinois begins the regular season Nov. 8 at SIU-Edwardsville, while Drake tips off its regular season Nov. 8 at home against South Dakota State.