Johnson, Westerberg All-Pac-10

There is a strong local flavor to the Pacific-10 Conference women’s basketball postseason awards, even though Washington State was shut out.

Three Arizona State players were recognized – Emily Westerberg from Central Valley, Aubree Johnson from Post Falls and Briann January from Lewis and Clark.

Westerberg and Johnson, both seniors, were named to the all-conference team. January, a sophomore, was honorable mention.

It’s the third straight season Westerberg earned all-conference honors. Stanford senior Brooke Smith and junior teammate Candice Wiggins, and UCLA senior Noelle Quinn are also three-time picks.

It’s the first selection for Johnson.

Washington senior Cameo Hicks is a repeat winner.

California sophomore Devanei Hampton is the Player of the Year, the first time a Golden Bear has received the award. Stanford’s Jayne Appel is the Freshman of the Year and Joanne Boyle of California is the Coach of the Year.

Westerberg is the first Sun Devil to earn All-Pac-10 three times. She leads the team in scoring (13.8) and his second in rebounding (5.2). She is eighth in the conference in shooting (124 for 234, 52.6 percent) and first in free-throw percentage at 85.2 (109 for 128).

Johnson leads ASU in rebounding (5.6) and is third in scoring (10.3). She is second in the Pac-10 in shooting at 55.4 percent (107 for 193).

January, who scores 9.4 points a game, leads in assists (122) and steals (64).

All three are starters along with Reagan Pariseau, a junior from CV. They have led ASU to school records for wins, conference wins and highest national ranking.

The Sun Devils are 26-3 overall, 14-2 in conference, and ranked seventh in the coaches poll, ninth in the Associated Press poll. They will play Saturday in the Pac-10 tournament.