Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today that Vanguard University’s Jessica Richter has been named the State Farm/WBCA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Player of the Year.  The WBCA presents this award annually to the top players in each of the following WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA and JC/CC) and high school.

“State Farm requests the absolute best at each level to earn this achievement and I am delighted to present the 2007 State Farm/WBCA NAIA Player of the Year to Jessica Richter,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass.  “She has put forth the extra effort to stand out above the rest this season and has certainly succeeded.”

This Oregon native became the fifth Vanguard women’s basketball player in the program’s history to be named the GSAC Player of the Year this season.  Richter, Vanguard’s leading scorer, ranked in the top ten of most GSAC categories, including scoring (3^rd), steals (1^st) and total three-pointers (3^rd). 

Richter piloted the Lion women to a number one ranking throughout the entire season and secured their fifth consecutive GSAC Championship.  Not only have the Lions won more women’s basketball conference titles (8) than any other team in the conference, but this standout guard led the team to two consecutive undefeated regular seasons.  Richter’s hopes of garnering another conference championship and returning to the NAIA National Tournament have already come true.  The team will now vie for the ultimate goal as they compete for the national crown in the NAIA National Tournament. 

"Congratulations to State Farm/WBCA NAIA Player of the Year Jessica Richter," said Mark D. Gibson, Assistant Vice President of Advertising at State Farm. "Her outstanding accomplishments as a student-athlete, on and off the court, make her truly deserving of this wonderful honor. We look forward to seeing Jessica fulfill the rest of her basketball dreams."

The State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year Award is selected by the seven-member WBCA Player of the Year Committee, which consists of one WBCA-member coach from each of the six WBCA NAIA Regions and the committee chair.

Richter will be formally presented her award at the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at 12:00 p.m. (ET) in the Crowne Plaza’s Grand Ballroom. The State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year presentation is part of the 2007 WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Cleveland, Ohio. 

About State Farm

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Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.