TAMPA, Fla. – The Sun Conference has announced its specialty award winners for the 2025-26 women's basketball season.

Southeastern’s Grace Field was named The Sun Conference Player of the Year following a standout campaign that helped lead the Fire to the 2025–26 outright Regular Season Championship. Field finished as the third-leading scorer in the conference, averaging 15.0 points per game overall and 16.2 points per game in conference play. She also led the league in rebounds per game (9.3 overall, 10.1 in conference), averaging a double-double during conference action. Field ranked third in the conference in assists per game (3.8 overall, 4.2 in conference), fifth in steals per game (2.5 overall and in conference), and sixth in blocks per game. Additionally, she ranked second in the league in field goal percentage among players with over 100 attempts, shooting 59 percent from the floor this season.

Webber International’s Camryn Patterson earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after ranking third overall in rebounds per game (8.8) and sixth in conference play (7.3), while also leading the league in steals during conference games at 3.3 per contest and blocks per game at 1.6. Patterson additionally led the conference in assists per game at 4.5, contributing to efficiency on both ends of the floor for the Warriors throughout the season. She also led the league overall in minutes played (903) and ranked third in conference action in minutes per game.

Southeastern’s Sarah Davis was selected as Freshman of the Year after appearing in all 28 games for the Fire this season. Davis finished as the team’s third-leading scorer in conference play, averaging 8.6 points per game during league action. In the regular season, she totaled 210 points, 80 rebounds, 19 assists, and 10 steals, while shooting 88.9 percent from the free throw line.

Ave Maria’s Elena Barnes was named the Champions of Character award recipient. According to head coach Jelani Akil, Barnes consistently demonstrated leadership through service to her teammates and the campus community. Akil noted that Barnes remained after practice on multiple occasions to complete conditioning alongside teammates who were required to stay, including volunteering to finish a freshman teammate’s assigned running when she was unable to do so. He added that Barnes regularly supported teammates during preseason workouts and would often advocate on their behalf during practice by asking for clarification when others were hesitant to do so.

Akil also highlighted Barnes’ commitment to her faith and campus involvement, noting her daily participation in Mass and personal prayer, as well as her leadership in service-based campus programs that connect student-athletes with the broader student body. He shared that ahead of a rescheduled game against Coastal Georgia, Barnes competed shortly after a personal hardship and recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds, helping the team secure a key late-season win. Akil stated that Barnes’ actions throughout the year reflect the core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

Southeastern head coach Joshua Epperson was named Coach of the Year after leading the Fire to the 2025–26 outright Regular Season Championship in his second season at the helm. Southeastern finished the regular season with a 25–3 overall record and a 15–1 mark in conference play. Under Epperson’s leadership, three Fire student-athletes earned All-Conference recognition this season. Southeastern led all teams in conference play with 77.9 points scored per game and ranked second in points allowed per game at 55.1, resulting in a league-best scoring margin of +22.8. The Fire will also serve as the host site for this year’s tournament semifinal and championship rounds.

For more information on this year's Sun Conference Championship, click [here].
 

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