Purdue women's basketball adds two-time NAIA Player of the Year Ella Collier from Marian

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue women's basketball dug deep into the transfer portal and made an addition, one that head coach Katie Gearlds is familiar with.

A player who predates her head coaching status at Purdue and back to the humble grounds of Marian University.

Purdue women's basketball added guard Ella Collier, who transferred from Marian after an impressive four-year career with the Knights. A native of Danville, Collier was named the NAIA Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. She is the all-time leading scorer at Marian University and was a four-time NAIA All-American.

The fifth-year transfer averaged 19 points while shooting 40% from 3-point range, 53.5% overall and 96% from the free throw line during her senior season with the Knights.

Collier was a 2020 Indiana All-Star and scored 2,210 points during her varsity career at Danville High School.

Her skills as a scorer from the outside and command at the free throw line check many boxes in the void left by departed 2024 Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year Mary Ashley Stevenson.

Collier was originally recruited by Gearlds before she left for Purdue. Gearlds ascended to the head coaching role at Purdue in 2021-22 after leading Marian from 2014-21.

Transferring to Purdue to play a fifth year will allow Collier to pursue her master's in education in West Lafayette. Collier is a substitute teacher at Danville.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Marian's Ella Collier, NAIA Player of the Year, transfers to Purdue