LIU graduate student forward Jamal Fuller (Toronto, Canada/Central Tech) was selected as the NEC scholar-athlete in men’s basketball after combining championship-level success on the court with excellence in the classroom. Fuller helped lead the Sharks to the program’s seventh NEC title while earning All-NEC first team honors after being named to the second team in 2024-25. A two-time NEC Player of the Week, Fuller ranked among the NEC leaders in multiple statistical categories, finishing fourth in scoring at 16.2 ppg, along with fifth in field goal percentage (.518) and free throw percentage (.771), and sixth in blocks per game (1.1). In the classroom, Fuller posted a 3.85 undergraduate GPA while earning his degree in Exercise Science & Wellness and carries a 3.92 GPA in LIU’s Sports Management master’s program. He was named to the NEC Academic and Commissioner’s Honor Roll lists for the second time.

Mercyhurst senior guard Jenna Van Schaik (Cincinnati, OH/Ursuline) earned NEC scholar-athlete honors in women’s basketball after helping lead the Lakers to a historic season at the DI level. Van Schaik garnered All-NEC first team honors as Mercyhurst tied for second in the conference standings with a 14-4 league record in just its second year as a member of the NEC. The Lakers advanced to the NEC semifinals and later earned the program’s first DI postseason berth with an WNIT appearance. Van Schaik was named to the NEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 25.5 points per game, including a 28-point outing against LIU in the semifinals that tied for the highest single-game scoring total in the tournament. Tabbed the NEC Player of the Week on February 23, Van Schaik ranked among the NEC leaders in several categories, finishing third in scoring (13.9 ppg), second in assists (3.4 apg), fifth in free throw percentage (.793), sixth in field goal percentage (.467) and tenth in steals (1.5 spg). A two-time member of the NEC Academic and Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Van Schaik maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA as a Business and Competitive Intelligence major.

Duquesne junior Maribeth Baker (York, PA/Pennridge) was tabbed the NEC scholar-athlete in women’s bowling. Baker helped power the Dukes to a share of the NEC regular-season title, the program’s first NEC Tournament championship and an NCAA second round appearance. The three-time NEC Bowler of the Week collected All-NEC first team and NEC All-Tournament Team accolades while also emerging as one of the nation’s top bowlers. Baker earned All-America recognition from three national organizations, including IBMA first team, NTCA second team and NCBCA second team honors, and was named a finalist for the IBMA Collegiate Bowler of the Year award. Hailing from York, PA, she paced the Dukes in frame (21.34) and first ball (9.12) average while recording a 41.3 strike percentage and an 86.3 fill percentage. She also led the NCAA in traditional average according to the United States Bowling Congress, averaging 212.0 per game across seven events with four top-five finishes. Nationally, Baker ranked among the NCAA leaders in several categories, including 15th in frame average, ninth in strike percentage, seventh in 10th frame scoring average and 25th in Player Composite Performance Index. A three-time member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll, Baker was also named to the NEC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for the first time this season and carries a 3.84 GPA as a Digital Media Arts major.

The men’s indoor track and field scholar-athlete award went to CCSU graduate student James Sullivan (Redding, CT/Immaculate). One of the league’s premier distance runners, Sullivan added to his résumé this winter, earning NEC Most Outstanding Track Performer (Distance) honors at the NEC Indoor Championships after capturing conference titles in both the 3,000 meters (8:35.37) and 5,000 meters (14:30.12). He contributed 20 key points that helped propel the Blue Devils to a second consecutive NEC crown. Sullivan capped his indoor career with four NEC gold medals and has collected eight conference championships across indoor and outdoor competition. A four-time member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll, Sullivan has compiled a 3.38 undergraduate GPA and 3.56 graduate GPA while pursuing degrees in Physical Education.

Central Connecticut senior Nuchwara Inthasit (Stonington, CT/Stonington) was recognized as the NEC scholar-athlete in women’s indoor track and field. Inthasit earned NEC Outstanding Track Performer (Sprints) honors by winning the conference title in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.70 while also running a leg on the Blue Devils’ gold medal-winning 4x400 relay team. She added a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter dash and later placed fifth in the 60 meters at the New England Indoor Championships. Inthasit helped the Blue Devils capture their fourth NEC indoor crown in the last five seasons and fifth overall. A four-time member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll, Inthasit maintains a 3.56 GPA as a Biology major.

LIU junior Martin Navelsaker Beitveit (Oslo, Norway/Lambertseter Upper (Fresno Pacific)) was awarded NEC scholar-athlete honors in men’s swimming and diving. Beitveit delivered an impressive showing at the NEC Championships in February, claiming the conference individual title in the 100 backstroke with a winning time of 49.83 while also helping the Sharks place second in the 400 medley relay and third in the 200 medley relay. Named to both the NEC Academic and Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Beitveit maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA as a Business Administration major.

Saint Francis senior Sara Turner (Enola, PA/East Pennsboro) capped off her career by winning the NEC women’s swimming and diving scholar-athlete award. Turner, a two-time NEC Swimmer of the Week, contributed 52 individual points and 58 more as part of relay quartets at the NEC Championships. She won gold in the 400-yard individual medley in 4:24.80, placed second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:05.06) and fourth in the 200-yard IM (2:04.84). Turner, who hails from Enola, PA, has earned a spot on the NEC Academic and Commissioner’s Honor Roll lists in each of her four years. She possesses a 3.91 GPA as a Health Science/Physical Therapy major.