Franklin, Wisc. (February 17, 2003) - Former Southeast Missouri State Women's Basketball player Christine Rathke was killed in a car accident yesterday as she was coming home from a Wisconsin-Parkside Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in her hometown of Franklin. She was 20 years old.

Rathke was driving to her home, when another vehicle, attempting to pass a slower car, hit her head on. The driver of the car was treated for minor injuries and then taken in to custody by the Milwaukee County Police Department and was charged with homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle. His passenger is still in the hospital in critical condition with severe head trauma.

Rathke played part of two seasons for the Otahkians before transferring at semester last season to UW-Parkside. She was one of the team's best shooters and saw herself break in to the starting lineup last season after an injury to teammate Tiffany Melis. She played in nine games, starting four of them, and averaged 8.8 points per game.

Rathke was named the team's Most Outstanding Rookie her freshman season after averaging 6.6 points while playing in all 27 games, starting one. She shot 37 percent from behind the arc and 85 percent from the free throw line. She averaged 19 minutes a game that season.

This season, Rathke was a member of the Wisconsin-Parkside team and had played in 20 of the team's 23 games, starting seven. She was averaging 11.2 points per game and 4.3 rebounds a game.

Christine was coming off the best game of her career as she had 20 points on 8-16 shooting from the field and 3-4 from the free throw line.