California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Lori Richelderfer was a member of the Lady Vulcan's basketball team in the early 90s. She was a tremendous point guard who set records for assists at Cal U, in the PSAC and in the NCAA. She was a member of the 1994 team that went to the NCAA’s.

A four-year starter for the Vulcan women’s basketball team from 1990-1991 through 1993-1994, Lori Richelderfer set a standard at the demanding point guard position for all future Lady Vulcans to emulate.

Possessing a calm, confident demeanor on the court along with considerable athletic ability, Richelderfer was a driving force behind four Lady Vulcan teams that compiled single-season records of 20-8, 18-8, 18-8 and a school-best 21-8 in 1993-1994. A two-time all-conference selection, Richelderfer was twice voted the team’s Most Valuable Player and was Cal’s Defensive Player of the Year three times.

Seven years after her playing career ended, Richelderfer remains the PSAC’s most prolific player in terms of assists.
She still holds PSAC records for career assists (660), single-game assists (21). She averaged an amazing 9.2 assists per game in 1992-1993 (3rd best in the nation) and 8.3 assists per game in 1993-1994 (5th best in the nation). A model of consistency, Richelderfer recorded 239 assists in 26 games as a junior and 240 assists in 29 games as a senior. Richelderfer still ranks 13th among all NCAA II career assist leaders and her 6.1 career assists-per-game-average is 16th best.

Her 21 assists at Millersville in early January of 1994 enabled the Vulcans to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and defeat the Marauders.

“The game sticks out because I had no idea about the record before they announced it over the PA system,” said Richelderfer. “I was surprised and I was glad that the game was played close to my home. Probably my entire family was there.”

The 1993-1994 Vulcans made the school’s first-ever appearances in the PSAC Final Four, PSAC Championship game, and NCAA II tournament. The 21 wins by the 1993-94 team remains a single-season school record and Cal’s cumulative record during the Richelderfer years was 77-24 (.762). The team captain of the 1993-1994 squad, she helped Cal conclude a run of seven straight winning seasons under head coach Paul Flores.

“Playing ball at California was a great experience for me,” Richelderfer said. “Coach Flores was very supportive and we were successful but should have won the state championship my senior year.” Cal hosted and lost the 1994 PSAC championship game to Clarion by a 71-69 score after beating PSAC-East championship East Stroudsburg by over 20 points the previous night.

Originally from Lancaster, PA, Richelderfer also enjoyed much basketball success at the scholastic level. She was a four-year starter for Lancaster Catholic and was voted the team’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1988-1989. Richelderfer, the senior team captain, helped Lancaster Catholic win the PIAA state championships that year with an upset win over previously undefeated Pittsburgh North Catholic. Richelderfer and Lancaster Catholic won three straight District III championships and were also PIAA finalists in 1988.

Richelderfer was a redshirt in 1989-1990 and keeping the team’s scorebook on the road that first season was a far cry from winning state championships.

“Sitting out that first year was extremely hard,” Richelderfer said. “Especially after everything went so perfectly my senior year in high school. It was a difficult first year and I was not used to not playing or practicing. Then it was hard to get back in the groove after not playing for a year. It took some time but I adjusted and you get it back.”

Richelderfer earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Cal U in 1995 and served as the head coach of the Charleroi Area High School’s girl’s basketball team for one season before returning back east.

Richelderfer now works as a kitchen designer and expediter for The Home Depot in Lancaster. She believes her collegiate days have helped her progress.

“The whole college experience has helped me in life,” said Richelderfer, who misses coaching and is looking to return to this hectic but rewarding profession. “You learn how to get along on your own and going to college helped me grow and become more responsible. I have no regrets and going to Cal has helped me be the person that I am today.”
She becomes the seventh women’s basketball player inducted into Cal U’s Athletic Hall of Fame and Richelderfer is looking forward to visiting her alma mater.

“ I have not been back since I graduated and I’m sure it will be interesting,” Richelderfer said. “I know things have changed which is always the case after you leave any place. It will be fun to see the campus again and I was little surprised when Coach Flores called me last fall about making the Hall of Fame because you never know. This is exciting.”

Lori resides in Columbia, Pa.