Former Penn State women’s basketball center Gracie Merkle has committed to transfer to Maryland, according to On3’s Talia Goodman. Merkle became the second Lady Lion transfer to find a new home this offseason, following Jill Jekot’s move to St. Joseph’s.

Before transferring to Penn State, Merkle spent two seasons at Bellarmine, winning the 2022-23 ASUN Freshman of the Year award. She led the Knights in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, blocks, field goals made, free throw attempts, and field goals made and broke the single-season program records for field goal percentage and rebounds.

At Penn State, Merkle averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on 67% shooting from the field, all team leads. She earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention from Big Ten media.

Four players from last season’s team remain on the Lady Lions’ roster after Merkle, Jekot, Cam Rust, Talayah Walker, Alli Campbell, Grace Hall, Moriah Murray, Ariana Williams, and Gabby Elliott hit the portal.

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Joe Lister

Joe, shockingly, was Onward State's managing editor from 2024-25. It was an honor. He's off employed doing journalism things, hopefully. If you want to complain about anything he's ever written, you can find him on Twitter (iamjoelister), email (jlister2021@gmail.com), or Signal (iamjoelister.93).

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