GREENVILLE, S.C. — Conference Carolinas unveiled the finalists for the 2024-25 Murphy Osborne Award with senior Abigail Crain representing Belmont Abbey. The winner of the 2024-25 Murphy Osborne Award will be officially announced on April 17. The Murphy Osborne Award is Conference Carolinas' Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award.

Crain is an accounting major with a minor in Cyber Audit, Risk and Compliance. She currently holds a 3.97 grade-point average and has earned a spot on the President's List five times during her time at Belmont Abbey. She also serves as the President of the Accounting, Technology, and Date Honor Society (ATDHS) and the Vice President of Belmont Abbey's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

This week, Abigail — who also goes by Abba — was also named the Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. She's also a past Elite 23 Award Winner and a three-time CSC Academic All-District selection.

Student-athletes are nominated by their institutions based on their academic, athletic and service accomplishments. The Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) from all Conference Carolinas institutions submit institutional nominations and votes are cast by the FARs.

"As the FAR, I have the distinct pleasure of overseeing the nomination for the Murphy Osborne Award. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see the work in the classroom, on the court, in the field and service in our community of so many outstanding young people," said Dr. Julia Beeman, Faculty Athletic Representative at Belmont Abbey. "Abba's contributions to the Abbey community truly exemplify Conference Carolinas' "Champion in Body, Mind and Soul" and I know she will continue to share her gifts as she graduates."

The Windermere, Fla. native has served as a team captain her last three seasons and is a three-time first-team all-conference selection. She finished her Belmont Abbey career with 1,368 career points, 11th most in program history. She also had over 500 rebounds and 200 assists in her career and helped Belmont Abbey capture the Conference Carolinas Tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Southeast Regional this past season.

As her coach, I have had the privilege of witnessing her remarkable growth and commitment to success on and off the basketball court," Belmont Abbey Women's Basketball head coach Kim Lusk said. ,"She has been an inspiration to me throughout my time knowing her."

To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be a December or May graduating senior or a first-year graduate student completing athletic eligibility at the same institution as undergraduate matriculation. The student-athlete must be a full-time student at the time of nomination, must have been a full-time student at the member school for at least two years and must be a starter or important substitute in a conference sport.

The award is named for longtime educator and college and university administrator Dr. Murphy Osborne.
 
2024-25 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award Finalists
Isabella Pita, Barton
Abigail Crain, Belmont Abbey
Danea Mackey, Chowan
Chloe Cleland, Converse
Jocelyn Martin, Emmanuel
Rupal Kharb, Erskine
Jenna Walling, Francis Marion
Jessica Campbell, King
Jesper Jonsson, Lees-McRae
Ashlyn Stone, Mount Olive
Anna Grossheim, UNC Pembroke
Caroline Smith, North Greenville
Thomas Macagg, Southern Wesleyan
Liam King, Young Harris