UC Davis Athletics

URSULINE HS [apos]03: Selected to Division IV All-State first team three times... Named MVP for North Bay League and Redwood Empire during each of final two years... Bears went 63-5 during those seasons... Also selected as one of Northern California[apos]s top 10 forwards both seasons... Averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds as a senior, improving from 16 ppg and 8 rpg as a junior... Team won three NBL titles, plus the North Coast Section banner in 2001-02... Selected to school[apos]s Principal[apos]s List (4.0 GPA or better) all four years... Also nominated for Press Democrat Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

PERSONAL: Born in Santa Rosa, Calif.... Grad student (master[apos]s degree) in exercise science...Granted relief from the NCAA[apos]s one-time transfer exception, allowing her to play as a grad student at UC Davis... Parents are Tom & Andrea Mertle... Younger sister, Heidi, plays basketball for Sonoma State... Heidi hit a three-pointer from beyond the midcourt stripe against UC Davis in a 2006-07 exhibition game... Career highlight was scoring 18 points vs. UCLA as a freshman... Lists her father as her non-sports hero and makes sure she calls him before every game.