WEST LAFAYETTE โ Purdue women's basketball has dug deep into the transfer portal to make reinforcements, and head coach Katie Geers knows that all too well.
The player returned to Marian University's humble grounds before taking the head coaching position at Purdue.
Purdue women's basketball has added guard Ella Collier, a transfer from Marian who had an impressive four-year career with the Knights. Collier, a native of Danville, was twice named NAIA Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. She is Marian University's all-time leading scorer and a four-time NAIA All-American.
The fifth-year transfer averaged 19 points during her senior season with the Knights, shooting 40 percent from 3-point range, 53.5 percent overall and 96 percent from the free throw line.
Collier is a 2020 Indiana All-Star who scored 2,210 points as a varsity player at Danville High School.
Her skills as an outside scorer and command at the free-throw line fill much of the hole left by departed 2024 Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year Mary Ashley Stevenson. are checking.
Collier was originally recruited by the Geers before departing for Purdue. Giardo led Marian from 2014-2021 before taking over as Purdue's head coach from 2021-2022.
Transferring to Purdue to play his fifth year will allow Collier to pursue a master's degree in education at West Lafayette. Collier is a substitute teacher in Danville.
Ethan Hanson is a sports reporter for the Journal and Courier in Lafayette. You can contact him at:ehanson@gannett.comon Twitter Ethan Hansonand on Instagram Ethan A Hanson.