Becca Hittner

ST. LOUIS — Drake’s two-time reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year is one of six repeat selections to the all-MVC first team, the league announced Wednesday.

Becca Hittner and fellow Drake senior Sara Rhine are both holdovers from last year’s all-MVC squad, as is Northern Iowa junior guard Karli Rucker. They’re joined in that distinction by Bradley’s Chelsea Brackmann and Gabi Haack, and Illinois State’s TeTe Maggett.

Rounding out the 11-player first team are Missouri State’s Brice Calip, Jasmine Franklin and Alexa Willard, Bradley’s Lasha Petree, and Illinois State’s Lexi Wallen.

Hittner led the Valley in scoring for the third-straight season, averaging 18.9 points per game while leading the conference in free throws (160), 3-pointers made (70) and 3-point percentage (41.2). She ranks fourth in the league in field-goal percentage (45.4) and is ninth with her career-best rebounding average (6.4).

Hittner tallied a career-high six double-doubles this season, scored in double figures in 28-of-30 games and led the MVC with 12 games of scoring 20 points or more.

Rhine ranked second in the league in scoring behind Hittner (17.7), was fourth in rebounding (8.1) and shot a remarkable 65 percent from the floor to lead the Valley. She had 10 double-doubles during the regular season.

Rucker led the Panthers and ranked eighth in the league in scoring 13.7 points per game, and was tops for UNI with 106 assists. She led Northern Iowa in scoring in 13 of their 29 games and eclipsed 20 points on seven occasions.

Rucker became the 25th member of UNI’s 1,000-point club, while Hittner and Rhine became just the second active pair of teammates to accumulate 2,000 points — joining Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard.

The Player, Newcomer, Freshman, Defensive Player and Sixth Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards will be announced today between opening round-games at the Missouri Valley Tournament in Moline, Ill.