Marks Second Team All-American; Four All-Academic

DETROIT, Mich. — The senior-laden postseason awards trend continued for the women’s basketball team as head coach Antonio Hitchcock and crew received multiple honors from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).

The honors come after the USCAA’s National Basketball Championship Opening Ceremony in which attending and non-attending teams and their student-athletes were recognized for their accomplishments on-and-off the court this season.

AN ALL-AMERICAN FINISH

Senior forward Keara Marks (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) kept her postseason awards streak going with a nomination to the USCAA All-American Second Team. The honor was the first All-American nod for Marks in her four-year starting career at Marygrove. Recently, Marks was named to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Honorable Mention Team and All-Academic Team.

This season, Marks eclipsed the Mustangs scoring mark to become the all-time leading scorer in the 10-year history of the women’s basketball program at Marygrove College. The senior forward averaged 16.5 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 2.9 steals per game for the Mustangs. Marks’ points average ranked her 2nd in the nation in the USCAA, while her steals per game average was good for 3rd in the association. The 7.5 rebounds per contest ranked Marks 19th among all USCAA counterparts.

THEY DID IT WITH CLASS

In an all-too-familiar scene, four Mustangs were named USCAA Academic All-Americans. The four Mustangs – Megan Gohl (Belleville, Mich./Belleville), Keara Marks (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance), Jessica Niemi (Swartz Creek, Mich./Swartz Creek), and Kaitlyn Pusey (Holly, Mich./Holly) – were also recently tabbed WHAC All-Academic performers. To achieve USCAA Academic All-American status, student-athletes must meet the minimum requirements of a 3.5 or above cumulative GPA and sophomore or above academic standing.

Niemi becomes a four-time USCAA Academic All-American after achieving three-in-a-row in her main sport of soccer. The standout athlete also is the first Mustang in any sport to be named a four-time USCAA First Team All-American (soccer). Gohl is a three-time USCAA Academic All-American and a two-time WHAC All-Academic performer this year after receiving honors in her main sport of volleyball. Pusey’s nomination is her third overall from the USCAA.

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