HARTFORD, Conn. - For the third straight year, Rutgers senior Essence Carson (Paterson, N.J.) was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year the conference announced at the annual awards banquet on Friday evening.

Epiphanny Prince was named Most Improved Player.

Senior guard Matee Ajavon (Newark, N.J.) earned first team honors along with sophomore Epiphanny Prince (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Prince was also tabbed the league's Most Improved Player.  Carson was named to the All-BIG EAST second team, along with junior center Kia Vaughn (Bronx, N.Y.).

This is the fourth straight season a Scarlet Knight has won the top defensive league award, as voted on by the head coaches. Carson earned the accolade the last two seasons and Chelsea Newton was recognized in 2005.

"I am surprised because it's tough to win back-to-back, much less three times in a row," Carson said. "There are some great players in the league, many that gave me a run for my money this year. I really fought hard to come back from an early season injury (stress fracture). I am truly humbled."

 Carson, just the second player in the league to win the top defensive honor three straight years, averaged 5.1 rebounds for the Scarlet Knights this season.  She grabbed 63 defensive boards in league play, leading Rutgers to the top-rated scoring defense (53.3 ppg) in conference-only action.  Carson is averaging 10.4 points on the offensive side, scoring in double figures in 15 games.

Ajavon has earned all-BIG EAST honors each of her four seasons 'On the Banks.' The first-team nod is the second for the Newark, N.J. native, having been tabbed to the first squad in 2006. Ajavon has registered 78 of her 135 assists and shot 41 percent from the floor in league play. In addition, she is shooting 80 percent from the free throw line in conference action.

Prince was selected the Most Improved Player, the second RU player to win the honor following former Scarlet Knight Michelle Campbell (2004-05). The sophomore guard from Brooklyn, N.Y. has seen an improvement in her statistics and confidence as the league season has progressed. Prince has upped her scoring average to a team-best 13.6 points per game. In addition, she has also raised her field goal percentage (45.0 percent), rebounds (5.4 per game), assists (2.9 per game) and steals (2.4 per game).

Vaughn earns league accolades for the second straight year. She is averaging just under 10 points per game in league action while grabbing 8.2 rebounds. The center from the Bronx has six double-doubles this season and has reached double-figure totals in rebounding on eight occasions.

The Scarlet Knights (24-5), seeded second in the BIG EAST Championship, look to defend their title beginning Sunday, March 9, against the winner of the Louisville/St. John's game. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m. at the XL Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.