Jo Ann Osterkamp (1989) - Hall of Fame - Xavier University Athletics

Jo Ann Osterkamp

Induction:
1989
Class:
1984

Jo Ann Osterkamp re-wrote the Xavier women's record book during her four-year career. She is the first Xavier basketball player to break the 2,000-point barrier and the firrst Xavier women's basketball player to have her number retired.

Osterkamp, who was named Third Team All-American after her junior year and First Team All-North Star Conference after her senior year, still sits in the top of six prominent Musketeer records: ranked third in points in a career (2,036), fourth in field goals made in a career (779), third most free throws made in a career (478), third most field goals attempted in a career (1,465), second in free throw attempts in a career (593), and most consecutive games scoring in double figures (48). Osterkamp, an excellent shooter and was the all-time leading scorer at the time of her graduation, pumped in 2,036 points in her Xavier career.

Consistency, the mark of a true star, is an understatement when describing Osterkamp's career. She put together a stretch at one point of 48 straight games scoring in double figures. The streak only came to an end when she badly twisted her ankle in a game at Detroit late in her senior year.

Osterkamp came back strong from the injury, collecting double figure point totals in five of XU's final six games. She drilled 11-12 field shots and 10-11 free throws en route to a 32-point effort in an 88-76 win at Akron.

Osterkamp was more than just a scorer, though, as shown by the fact that she dished out 242 assists during her career. She led the Musketeers to the 1981-82 AIAW State Title as a sophomore, earning distinction as the AIAW State Tournament MVP. She also averaged 21 points a game in the three regional games and was named First Team All-Region.

During Osterkamp's stay at Xavier, the Musketeers improved from 15-13 (freshman) to 20-14 (sophomore) to 13-13 (XU's first Division I season; her junior year). Osterkamp helped XU finish 10-16 in 1983-84 despite missing several games because of injury. The 1982 AIAW State Champions were the first 20-game winners in Xavier women's basketball history.

Believe it or not, though, Osterkamp almost didn't take up the sport. She was a soccer player at Cincinnati's Seton High School. Some of her friends encouraged her to go out for the freshman basketball team. She barely made the cut as a forward. She stuck with it, though, and when her coach switched her to guard she began to improve. That shaky start later turned into all-star high school and college careers.

All-American. All-North Star Conference. North Star Conference Player of the Week. A mention in "Faces in the Crowd" in Sports Illustrated. AIAW State Tournament MVP. First Team All-Region. Quite simply, Osterkamp was a star at Xavier. And a winner.

OSTERKAMP'S XAVIER CAREER STATS

Yr.	Games	FGM-FGA	PCT.	FTM-FTA	PCT.	REB/AVG	AST/AVG	PTS/AVG
80-81	28	161-342	.471	120-147	.816	62/2.2	52/1.9	442/15.8
81-82	34	252-463	.544	120-149	.805	97/2.9	83/2.4	624/18.4
82-83	26	220-401	.549	113-145	.779	108/4.2	49/1.9	553/21.3
83-84	23	146-259	.564	125-152	.822	84/3.7	58/2.5	417/18.1
Career	111	779-1465	.532	478-593	.806	351/3.2	242/2.2	2,036/18.3