University of Tennessee Athletics
SEC Legend Ostrowski To Be Honored Sunday
January 29, 2015 | Women's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee's 2015 SEC Women's Basketball Legend is the late Mary Ostrowski, and she will be recognized posthumously at Sunday's 3 p.m. game vs. #18/18 Mississippi State and during the SEC Tournament in Little Rock, Ark., later this season.
A 2006 Lady Vol Hall of Fame inductee and 1985 UT graduate with a degree in business administration, Ostrowski was a 6-foot-2 forward who scored 1,729 points and grabbed 994 rebounds during her career. She currently ranks 11th and fifth, respectively, in those statistical categories at UT. Only Chamique Holdsclaw (1,295), Glory Johnson (1,218), Sheila Frost (1,043) and Tamika Catchings (1,004) had more boards than the gifted and hard-working player many called "Mary O," "Mo" or "Big O."
Ostrowski was a 1982 Kodak All-American and SEC All-Tournament Team member and an All-SEC selection in 1982 and 1984. She averaged 15.9 points and 8.6 rebounds as a senior and tallied career numbers of 13.8 ppg. and 8.0 rpg. to rank 11th and sixth all-time at UT, respectively. Known for her sweet hook shot, she led the team in scoring twice (1981-82, 1983-84) and was the squad's top rebounder on three occasions (1981-84).
During her time at Rocky Top, Ostrowski helped Tennessee advance to NCAA Final Fours in 1981, 1982 and 1984. She earned a bevy of postseason honors in her senior season, making the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team and NCAA Mideast Regional All-Tournament Team and being named the NCAA Mideast Regional MVP. Additionally, she was the NCAA Tournament leading scorer and rebounder during that 1984 campaign.
Internationally, Ostrowski was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1981 to 1983, helping the squad to a gold medal at the 1983 World University Games. She also played on the U.S. Junior National Team from 1978-80.
Ostrowski, who starred at Parkersburg Catholic High School before becoming the first No. 1 rated recruit to sign and play for Pat Summitt at Tennessee from 1980-84, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in 2007 and passed away on July 19, 2013.
