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Alivia Bolinger, Karis Thomas, Maddie Lepley
Women's Basketball Signs Three For 2026-27
11/18/2025 10:15:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball head coach Maria Marchesano has announced the signing of three student-athletes for the 2026-27 season: Alivia Bolinger (6-1, Fort Wayne, Ind.), Maddie Lepley (5-11, Canton, Ohio) and Karis Thomas (5-6, Washington, Pa.).
Bolinger is a 6-foot-1 wing that will be no stranger to Summit City hoops fans. The Concordia Lutheran product averaged 17.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season and owns 930 points to date. She had a career-high of 31 points against New Haven in her sophomore season. She was an All-Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman and earned First Team All-Conference the next two years. She was invited to the Top 100 Showcase as a sophomore and junior. Bolinger played club basketball for OPS and Always 100. Her mother, Nicole, was also a hooper for the Mastodons in 2002-03.
"Alivia can flat out shoot the ball," Marchesano said. "She brings great size and length to the wing position and will be able to flow into multiple positions within our offense."
Lepley is a 5-foot-11 wing out of Massillon High School in Ohio. She is a two-time All-Federal League selection, one second team and one first team. She was a First Team District 4 honoree twice and was the Player of the Year last season. Lepley led her squad to a regional semifinal berth twice. She played club ball for Trendsetters, Ohio Xtreme and Legends U.
"Maddie is exactly what you think of when you think of Mastodon wings, Marchesano said. "She's long and athletic, versatile on defense, shoots the ball well, and is extremely hard-nosed and scrappy. She will fit into our systems well on both ends of the floor."
Thomas is a 5-foot-6 guard out of Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh. She already owns over 1,000 points in her career, leading the Bulldogs to a state runner-up finish and a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championship. Thomas played club hoops for Slaam and Western PA Bruins.
"Karis is going to be an exciting player to watch in the coming years," Marchesano said. "She is an extremely skilled guard with deep range and a huge love for this game. She's extremely poised, which we love to see in a scoring combo guard and will help her make that transition to college basketball."
Bolinger, Lepley and Thomas will join the Mastodons in the summer of 2026.
Bolinger is a 6-foot-1 wing that will be no stranger to Summit City hoops fans. The Concordia Lutheran product averaged 17.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season and owns 930 points to date. She had a career-high of 31 points against New Haven in her sophomore season. She was an All-Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman and earned First Team All-Conference the next two years. She was invited to the Top 100 Showcase as a sophomore and junior. Bolinger played club basketball for OPS and Always 100. Her mother, Nicole, was also a hooper for the Mastodons in 2002-03.
"Alivia can flat out shoot the ball," Marchesano said. "She brings great size and length to the wing position and will be able to flow into multiple positions within our offense."
Lepley is a 5-foot-11 wing out of Massillon High School in Ohio. She is a two-time All-Federal League selection, one second team and one first team. She was a First Team District 4 honoree twice and was the Player of the Year last season. Lepley led her squad to a regional semifinal berth twice. She played club ball for Trendsetters, Ohio Xtreme and Legends U.
"Maddie is exactly what you think of when you think of Mastodon wings, Marchesano said. "She's long and athletic, versatile on defense, shoots the ball well, and is extremely hard-nosed and scrappy. She will fit into our systems well on both ends of the floor."
Thomas is a 5-foot-6 guard out of Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh. She already owns over 1,000 points in her career, leading the Bulldogs to a state runner-up finish and a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championship. Thomas played club hoops for Slaam and Western PA Bruins.
"Karis is going to be an exciting player to watch in the coming years," Marchesano said. "She is an extremely skilled guard with deep range and a huge love for this game. She's extremely poised, which we love to see in a scoring combo guard and will help her make that transition to college basketball."
Bolinger, Lepley and Thomas will join the Mastodons in the summer of 2026.
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