Full Release
PHILADELPHIA- The Philadelphia Sports Information Directors Association (PhillySIDA) released its women's basketball Academic All-Area team on Tuesday morning, and Leah Johnson (Columbus, N.J./Notre Dame) was honored as one of five players on the Academic All-Area squad.

To be selected for the Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area women's basketball team a student-athlete must be a sophomore academically, a starter or significant reserve on their institution's women's basketball team and have a grade point average of 3.30 or higher. Sports information offices from the 30 institutions in the Philadelphia area nominate and vote on the team. The Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area program is now in its 19th year.

Johnson's is just the latest honor in a long line of recognitions for the graduate student guard, who has repeated as a First Team All-PSAC East selection, CSC Academic All-District, D2CCA All-Region, WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, and now an Academic All-Area honoree. The veteran guard, who rewrote the record books during her tenure on University Avenue, also earned PSAC East Player of the Year honors, becoming the first WCU player to do so since Dana Weems in 2008.

Johnson rewrote the record books during her tenure on University Avenue, breaking the program's career scoring (1,777 points), field goals made (686), field goals attempted (1,781) assists (620), and triple-double (3) records while also turning in an unforgettable 44-point effort in the 2023 NCAA Tournament vs California (Pa.) that led to her breaking the single-game scoring mark. The graduate student guard also finished her career second in team history in rebounds by a guard (703), steals (284), and free throw percentage (83.8 %).

In 2023-24, Johnson appeared in all 31 games with 30 starts, averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. The veteran guard became the first Golden Ram in team history and the first DII player since 2021-22 to record a triple-double in back-to-back games vs. Mansfield and Millersville earlier this season at home and ranks in a tie for first in Division II in triple-doubles with two on the year. After ending the regular season as the PSAC leader in 2023-24 in both steals and assists, the Columbus, New Jersey native finished her final season wearing the Purple and Gold, ranked seventh in Division II in assists per game. Johnson earned PSAC East Athlete of the Week honors for three straight weeks earlier this season as she turned in an incredible stretch of basketball, which saw her break the career assist record on January 13 vs. ESU, turn in back-to-back triple-doubles on January 27, and 29 vs. Mansfield and Millersville, and break the career scoring record on February 7 at Shepherd.