Credit to: purduesports.com
NEW CASTLE, Ind. – Two Boilermakers have been named to the 2025 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Class. Current associate head coach Kelly Komara and Melina Griffin were tabbed to the 23rd induction group.
The pair are the 17th and 18th Boilermakers to earn the distinction. The class will be honored on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Komara’s roots in the state run deep after earning Indiana Miss Basketball and the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year in 1998 for Lake Central. Komara tallied 1,478 points, 356 rebounds, 435 assists and 334 steals over four season at Lake Central. She guided the Lady Indians to four sectional championships, three regional titles and two semi-state wins.
Komara was tabbed an Indiana All-Star, a Nike/Parade/WBCA/USA Today All-American after her senior season in 1998 for Lake Central.
Following a historic high school career, Komara joined Purdue during one of the greatest runs in program history. As a freshman, including making her collegiate debut in an upset win over reigning national champion Tennessee, Komara played a vital role in the run to the 1999 NCAA National Championship.
Komara reached four NCAA Tournaments, won three Big Ten titles and two Big Ten Tournament Championships. Her graduating class in 2002 went 112-22 (83.6%) for the best winning percentage in Purdue history.
After her playing days, Komara was drafted in the third round of the 2002 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever before embarking on a coaching career over the last 20 years. She spent time at Auburn, Vanderbilt and Marquette, before joining Katie Gearlds‘ staff back home in 2023.
https://hoopshall.com/indiana-basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-23rd-womens-induction-class/
Griffin was a 1992 Indiana All-Star at Anderson, where she totaled 1,274 points over a four-year career. She helped Anderson reach the 1990 State Finals with a 20-6 record. Griffin was tabbed 1992 AP high honorable mention All-State as well as three times all-sectional, 1990 all-regional, 1990 all-semi-state and three times all-North Central Conference.
In four seasons with the Boilermakers, Griffin recorded 366 points, 314 rebounds and 136 assists. She helped Purdue reach its first Final Four in 1994 and qualify for the NCAA Tournament three times.
Since her graduation in 1997, Griffin has worked for Guide Lamp, the Anderson Sports Center and since 2010, for Aspire Indiana Health. She has been a licensed IHSAA basketball official, served as a basketball trainer and volunteered for Tamika Catchings’ Catch The Stars Foundation. Griffin earned a bronze medal as a member of the North Team in the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival.
The 2024-25 Purdue women’s basketball season is presented by Purdue Global, Purdue University’s online educational solution for working adults.
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