NEW ORLEANS – Troy junior Fátima Fernández Cano was named the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Women's Golfer of the Year as voted upon by the league's nine head coaches while Arkansas State's Aracelly Jimenez Rios was named the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.

Cano carded a two-over 74 in the final round of the NCAA East Regional at the Shoal Creek Country Club to climb 14 spots on the leaderboard and finish her third NCAA Regional appearance in a tie for 50th place as she closed our her junior season for the Trojans. Cano finished the season with a 72.79 stroke average to break her own school record by 1.07 strokes. She now has three of the four lowest single-season stroke averages in school history, while her 74.07 career stroke average is 2.59 strokes better than any other golfer in school history.

A native of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Cano is ranks 30th in the latest World Amateur Golf rankings, while checking in 66th in the Golfweek national collegiate rankings. She has won a five tournaments this season.

Led by all-tournament selection Aracelly Jimenez Rios, the Arkansas State women’s golf team collected their best finish at the league tournament since placing fourth in 2004. Jimenez Rios ended the tourney tied for sixth place which was the best showing at the Sun Belt tournament by an A-State player since Abi Laker also tied for sixth place in 2013.

The First Team All-Sun Belt Conference choice recorded a combined 226, including a 76 for the second round and a 75 for the first and third. In the process, she picked up her fifth top-10 showing of the season. The Merida, Mexico native led the Red Wolves this past season with a 75.78 scoring average in 27 rounds played. She recorded a season low of 70 twice and won once this past season.

Texas State's Mike Akers was named the Women's Golf Coach of the Year.