MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players Named to All-ECAC Teams, Stella Johnson Named ECAC Division I Player of the Year
MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players Named to All-ECAC Teams, Stella Johnson Named ECAC Division I Player of the Year
Danbury, CT (March 26, 2020) – Four Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) players have been named to Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-ECAC Teams. In addition, Rider University’s Stella Johnson was named the ECAC Division I Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.
Johnson was named to the All-ECAC First Team for the women, being joined by Marist College’s Rebekah Hand and Manhattan College’s Courtney Warley on the All-ECAC Second Team. Siena College’s Jalen Pickett represented the MAAC on the men’s side, being named to the All-ECAC First Team.
Johnson was named the 2020 MAAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year after leading all of NCAA Division I in scoring with 24.4 points per game. The senior continued her season tear into the postseason where she set a MAAC Championship record of 37 points in a quarterfinal win against Niagara University. The Denville, New Jersey native played an integral part in the Broncs collecting their first ever-regular season co-championship. Earlier this week, Rider was also awarded the 2020 Hercules Tires MAAC Women’s Basketball Championship trophy and was named the NCAA automatic qualifier for the MAAC after the cancellation of the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pickett becomes the first player in Siena Basketball history to be earn All-ECAC honors multiple times, after being named the program’s first-ever ECAC Rookie of the Year and an All-ECAC Second Team selection last season. Pickett was named the 2020 MAAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year earlier this month after averaging 15.3 points, a league-leading 6.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds in the regular season. The Rochester, New York native led the Saints to collecting their first regular season championship since 2010. Pickett added nine points, seven assists, and two steals in a 63-49 win over Manhattan College in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s Basketball Championships. Like Rider, Siena was awarded the 2020 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship trophy and NCAA automatic qualifier.
Hand and Warley were both 2020 All-MAAC First Team selections, as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches. Hand ranked second in the MAAC and led the Red foxes in scoring, posting 18.0 points per contest. The Argyle, Texas native was a sharpshooter throughout the season with a .522 field goal percentage (second in the MAAC) and a .413 field goal percentage from beyond the arc (fourth in the MAAC). In addition, Hand aided the Red Foxes in claiming the program’s 12
th regular season title, being named co-champions with Rider. Warley entered 2019-20 as the defending MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. The junior posted improved numbers, dropping 11.6 points per game to go with 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 steals, .86 blocked shots, and 34.9 minutes of action per game. Her 69 steals ranked second in the MAAC and her 254 rebounds ranked third.
To keep up with all MAAC Hoops action, follow @MAACHoops on Twitter and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #MAACHoops.
About Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall:
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center are owned and funded by
the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). Spectra provides both
Venue Management and Food Services & Hospitality to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the
Atlantic City Convention Center.
About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority:
The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents since 1984. Under the 2011 Tourism District Act, the Authority's mission evolved from statewide projects to becoming the state's key economic development agency for Atlantic City. CRDA's expanded responsibilities now include land use regulation, tourism marketing and clean and safe initiatives. The CRDA also oversees Historic Boardwalk Hall (the leading entertainment venue of its size in the country) and the Atlantic City Convention Center. In total, CRDA has invested nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide, of which $1.8 billion has been invested in Atlantic City, spurring business investments and expansions, and creating permanent jobs in the process. For more information about CRDA and our projects, visit www.njcrda.com. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/njcrda and Twitter at www.twitter.com/njcrda.
About the Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships:
The Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships return to New Jersey on March 9-13, 2021 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. To stay up to date on MAAC basketball, visit
maacsports.com/basketball and follow
@MAACHoops on Twitter.
About Van Wagner Sports:
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http://www.vanwagner.com/.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 39
th year of competition during the 2019-20 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.