McKean wins academic award

COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho — Moses Lake graduate and North Idaho College (NIC) women’s basketball player Marielle McKean was chosen co-Female Academic Athlete of the Year at NIC for her performance in the classroom.

McKean said she appreciates the recognition.

 “It is a good feeling,” she said of the award. “I worked hard to get good grades. It was nice to get honored.”

McKean has maintained a 3.9 grade point average at NIC while making the NIC Dean’s List each semester since enrolling at the school. McKean has represented the Cardinals on the basketball court as well.

She was a starter for the Cardinals this year and she finished 15th in the Scenic West Athletic Conference in rebounding this season, including 13th in offensive rebounding. She finished seventh in blocked shots.

Her defensive prowess helped the Cardinals claim the Region 18 tournament championship and NIC finished ninth in the nation this season.

McKean said she values the time she has spent with her teammates.

“I love my team, I had an awesome year with them,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better situation. We worked really well together (this season and) we should have finished sixth, but technically we finished ninth.”

Although McKean was chosen to receive the award — along with volleyball player Emily Callaway — she was unable to accept it in person.

“My coach told me that I was nominated and I had a pretty good chance of winning,” she said. “I was at a wedding (when they picked me) and my coach texted me.”