UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Redshirt-sophomore Gracie Merkle repeats on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll in consecutive weeks as announced by the conference on Monday afternoon. Merkle averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds in Penn State’s two wins at the State Farm WBCA Showcase in Orlando, Fla. last week.
The Mount Washington, Ky. native was instrumental in the Lady Lions two victories in Florida last week, extending Penn State’s win streak to 7-0 to begin the 2024-25 campaign, marking only the fifth time in school history and second in the last three years under head coach Carolyn Kieger. The 6’6 center guided the Lady Lions to their wins using double-doubles in both games. Against Marshall, Merkle scored a season high 28 points and posted 11 boards to notch her third double-double of the season. Despite early foul trouble in Penn State’s contest against Georgia in the second game of the showcase, the Kentucky native still managed 12 points and 11 rebounds, marking her 23rd double-double of her career and fourth at PSU in seven games. The only Lady Lion to score in double figures in all of the team’s games, ranks second in the nation in field goals (58), third in double-doubles (4), fifth in total points (138), eighth in blocks (17) and 11th in rebounds (65), leading the conference in all categories with the exception of total rebounds, ranking third.
Merkle is a transfer from Bellarmine University, where she led the country in field goal percentage her freshmen season. After being sidelined due to injury her sophomore campaign, she transferred to Penn State this summer.