WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson junior forward Asia Johnson (Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood) was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, and joined senior guard Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, N.J./Bishop Ahr) on the All-NJAC First Team, the league office announced Feb. 27.

Johnson ranks second in the conference in rebounding (11.3 rpg), blocked shots (3.67 bpg) and offensive rebounds (4.96 rpg), and is fifth in scoring (13.7 ppg), 11th in free-throw percentage (.654) and 13th in field-goal percentage (.429). The 5-11 forward, who is also sixth nationally in blocks and tied for 22nd in rebounding, has posted 12 double-doubles, 14 double-digit scoring games and 17 double-digit rebounding totals this winter. Three times named the NJAC Player of the Week (Jan. 21, Feb. 11, Feb. 26), she was the Jan. 21 ECAC Metro Region and PrestoSports/Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Player of the Week, earned spots on the Jan. 14 and Feb. 18 MBWA Weekly Honor Roll, and was selected to the d3hoops.com National Team of the Week on Jan. 22 and Feb. 19. Johnson has been a force on the defensive end of the court this season, and currently owns the Pioneers' single-game (14, vs. Montclair State, Feb. 13, 2008), single-season (88) and career (131) blocked shots records.

This marks the third straight year that a Pioneer has been named the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, as former all-American guard Luci Custis received the same award in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Pellichero earned her third all-conference award (2006-07 Second Team, 2004-05 Honorable Mention), and her first all-NJAC first-team honor. The 5-4 guard leads the league in three-point field-goal percentage (.439, 10th in Division III), and ranks second in three-pointers made per game (3.09, sixth nationally), third in scoring (15.2 ppg) and 14th in assists (2.59 apg). Currently eighth in William Paterson history in career scoring (1,339), Pellichero was named the Dec. 10 NJAC Player of the Week and earned a spot on the DeSales Tipoff All-Tournament Team Nov. 17-18. She established a new school record with 86 three-pointers made last season, and this winter she has tallied 17 double-digit scoring efforts.

William Paterson (20-5, 11-2 NJAC) will host No. 12 Kean in the NJAC Tournament semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 7:00 p.m. The winner of that game will advance to the NJAC Tournament final Friday, Feb. 29.