Vanguard’s Richter repeats as All-American honoree

Vanguard University senior women’s basketball star Jessica Richter was named to the Kodak/Women’s Basketball Coaches Assn. NAIA All-American team at a banquet Tuesday night in Jackson, Tenn.

Richter, a 5-foot-10 guard, averages 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals for the Lions (24-5), who finished second in the Golden State Athletic Conference and open their ninth appearance in the NAIA Division I Tournament Thursday at 2 p.m. against Cumberlands of Kentucky (23-8) at Oman Arena in Jackson.

Richter, who transferred to Vanguard after playing her freshman season at Syracuse, was the NAIA Player of the Year as a junior and has twice collected GSAC Player of the Year laurels.

She has been an All-American all three of her seasons with Coach Russ Davis’ Lions, who were ranked No. 4 in the final NAIA Division I poll.

— Barry Faulkner