Senior guard Raven Johnson has been named the Southeastern Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced Tuesday. She became the fifth player in program history to earn the honor. She was also named to both the SEC All-Defensive team and All-SEC second-team for the second consecutive season.
Johnson joined Ieasia Walker, A'ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso as Gamecocks to win the award. She led a Gamecock defense that led the conference in scoring defense and allowed field goal percentage. Johnson also led all Gamecock guards with a combined 70 steals and blocks this year.
With Johnson on the court, ranked opponents scored nearly 10 fewer points per 100 possessions. Teams saw their field goal percentage drop 3.5% and their 3-point percentage drop 8.3% with her in the game. She matched up with 13 other All-SEC selections throughout the season, allowing 0.653 points per possession as the primary defender, while other Gamecock defenders allowed 0.813.
On offense, Johnson posted career-best averages in points per game (10.0), shooting percentage (49.6%), 3-point shooting (38.0%) and assists per game (5.4). She ranked fourth in the country with a 3.6 assist-to-turnover ratio, finishing the year ranked sixth in the SEC in total assists with 167. No other Gamecock broke 100 total assists this season. Despite standing at 5 feet, 9 inches, tied for the team's shortest player, her 129 rebounds on the year were the third-most on the team.
Johnson was one of South Carolina's five players named to All-SEC teams, tying the SEC record for the most selections from one program in a single season.