DETROIT (11/17/2024) -- The University of Detroit Mercy honored one of its former student-athletes with a prestigious Athletic Department accolade as Sr. Rita Clare '01 was presented with the Father Norbert Huetter, S.J. award.

Sr. Rita Clare was honored during halftime of Saturday's men's basketball game against Toledo.

The Fr. Huetter Award is conferred upon those who have lived and served in the mission of St. Ignatius Loyola as "men and women for others."  These individuals are the model of leadership that will serve as an example for others for many years to come.  

Only seven other individuals have received the honor since its creation in 2000. 

During her time with the women's basketball team from 1997-01, Sr. Rita Clare, then Anne Yoches, played in 86 games with 34 starts and averaged 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, shooting 40.7% from the field.

The Titans won 60 games in her tenure, finished in the top three in the Horizon League three times and made it to the HL championship game in 1999. She helped Divine Child to two straight state championships in high school before coming to UDM.

She graduated with a degree in sports medicine from Detroit Mercy and played women's professional football with the Detroit Demolition.

In 2009, she entered the Franciscan Sisters T.O.R. and made her final vows in 2018. 

Fr. Norbert Huetter (1905-1984) was a philosopher and teacher at the University of Detroit.  For three decades, he was beloved by student-athletes and was known for the personal care he took in guiding student-athletes in the study of philosophy and preparing them for a productive adult life.