Karna Abram

40/23

Year:
Senior
Hometown:
Cicero, IN
Position:
F
Height:
6-2

JUNIOR YEAR (1985-86)
Only time will tell what kind of season awaits Karna Abram, but if the last three seasons are any indication, she will more than leave a mark on Indiana women's basketball. She is already second on the list of all-time leading scorers, only 633 points shy of surpassing Denise Jackson. For the For the average player scoring that many points in one season is an unachievable goal, but not for Karna. In fact her sophomore year she tallied 642, the most for any Hoosier in a single season. That same year she scored 39 points against Illinois to become IU's record holder of the most points in one game. Also during the 1984-85 season, Karna was 17th in the nation in scoring with a 22.7 average. In the conference last year she was second only to Illinois' Jonelle Polk in scoring, averaging 18.3 points. She barely edged out teammate Cindy Bumgarner to take high scoring honors for Indiana for the second year in a row. Her presence on the court does not go unnoticed for she was selected to the All-Big Ten First team for the second consecutive year in addition to being a Fast Break All-American University Division (special mention) and a Great Lakes All-Region pick. As a sophomore she was chosen NCAA Kodak District All-American. Karna was also awarded the Varsity Club Scholar Athlete award for her performances in the classroom.

SOPHOMORE YEAR (1984-85)
A legitimate all-America candidate, Karna Abram jumped from being Indiana's sixth leading scorer during her rookie season to finishing among the nation's top 20 scorers last year. She set eight IU school and Assembly Hall records while averaging 22.9 points per game, the nation's 17th best figure, and 23.7 in conference play. Only Northwestern's Anucha Browne at 29.4 ppg and Minnesota's Laura Coenen at 25.4 ppg had better conference averages. Both players have graduated, leaving Abram, who was also second in Big Ten free throw shooting with a .790 percentage, as the top returning scorer in the conference. Abram's quickness, heigth, and agility around the basket enabled her to score 30 points or more in three games, including a record 39 against Illinois. She also holds school records for most points in a season (642), highest scoring average (22.9), most field goals in a season (272), most field goal attempts in a season (525), best field goal accuracy in a single game (10 for 12 against Ball State) and best free throw accuracy in a single game (nine for nine against Illinois), and Assembly Hall records for most points in a single game (34 against Michigan State) and most field goals in a single game (16 against Michigan State). Karna was twice honored last season as the Big Ten's Player of the Week, once on Jan. 8 after totaling 62 points and 19 rebounds vs Michigan and Michigan State and again on Jan. 29 for a 62-point, 17-rebound weekend against Purdue and Illinois. She recieved Al-Big Ten first team and NCAA Kodak district All-America honors in 1984-85 as well.

FRESHMAN YEAR (1983-84)
Karna Abram entered the Indiana program a year ago as one of IU's most heralded freshman. She wasted little time in proving why, playing in all 28 games and gettting five starts. In overall statistics she finished the year as the teams sixth leading scorer and its third rebounder with respective averages of 6.1 and 3.8. By the time midseason had arrived, however, Karna had adjusted to the system and was contributing more than her overall figures indicate. In Big Ten play, where she had adjusted to the Indiana system enough she was able to move in for such dominating insiders as Rachelle Bostic and Denise Jackson, maintaining their level of play, Abram's averages jumped to 8.7 points and 4.7 boards per contest. Her first starting assignment came at home against Wisconsin where she scored her season high 22 points while snatching down 10 rebounds. The following weekend at Wisconsin and Minnesota, Karna became Indiana's nominee for Big Ten Player-of-the-Week with an outstanding performance, totaling 32 points and 17 boards with a floor accuracy of .519. With a year of collegiate competition behind her, the quick and versatile Abram should come fully into her own this year.

PREP
One of the premier high school players in the midwest, Karna Abram brings national honors with her to IU. a Converse All-American, honorable mention Street & Smith's and USA Today All-American and a Fourth Team Parade All-American, Abram capped her year by earning a spot on the 1983 National Sports Festival North Team. Averaging 21.8 points and 10.7 rebounds during her senior year, Karna was instrumental in Sterling High School's fourth place finish in the 1983 Illinois State Tournament. Extremely athletic, Karna was also a high school standout in volleyball and softball. Sue Strong was Karna's prep coach.