Fairfield University women's basketball Joe Frager announced the signing of Taryn Johnson (Brockton, Mass.), Sarah Paulus (Manlius, N.Y.) and Desiree Pina (Plainville, Conn.) to National Letters of Intents to play for the Stags.  The trio marks the first early signees for Frager at Fairfield and the cornerstones of the Class of 2012.

"This is a talented group of players that will have an impact on our program over the course of their careers," said Frager.  "I am excited to have them join the Fairfield family and look forward to seeing them in Stags uniforms for the next four years."

Johnson is a senior at Brockton High School where she plays in the post.  As a junior she averaged 18.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.  Johnson, 5-foot-11 is a two-time Big 3 Conference All-Star, as well as having been named the 2007 Enterprise Player of the Year.  She has also been recognized for her academic success twice being named to the Boston Herald All-Scholastic Team.

Paulus, a senior at Christian Brothers Academy, is a 5-foot-9 point guard that has earned All-League accolades in each of her three high school seasons.  She averaged 15 points and 9.1 assists per game as a junior, shooting 42.5 percent from the field, and was rated as a top-150 recruit in the nation.  Paulus is the youngest of seven children, including brother Greg, the starting point guard for the Duke University men's basketball team, and all of whom have earned Division I athletic scholarships.

Pina, who is attending Plainville High School, is a 5-foot-6 guard, who will serve as a team captain this season.  She enters her senior season averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.  Pina is a three-time selection to the All-State and All-Conference team, while earning All-New Britain Herald honors twice in her scholastic career.

Frager is in his first season at the helm of the Stags, who have opened the 2007-08 season with a 6-1 mark, including a 5-0 start.  Fairfield will open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Friday, at Saint Peter's, before hosting Marist at Alumni Hall on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m.