SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced today the results of its year-end balloting for women's golf with Wofford's Bella Kent listed on the SoCon All-Freshman Team. The honorees were voted on by the league's coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
 
Kent, a native of Berkshire, England, is the first Terrier freshman honored on the all-freshman team since 2019 when the duo of Kristine Torralba and Becca Earl were listed among the first-year honorees. She is the first Terrier honored in the year-end balloting since 2022 when Earl earned All-SoCon recognition.
 
"Bella has had a really good first year, including a low-round 68 and second-place finish in Puerto Rico," said head coach Angie Ridgeway. "She's always ready to play when the bell rings and is a natural leader."
 
Over 27 rounds of play in her rookie campaign, Kent posted a 75.15 stroke average, which was 15^th best in the conference overall. It's the best stroke average by a Terrier since Earl's 73.81 mark in the 2021-22 season and the third best in a season in program history. Kent finished in the top 20 in six of the nine events she played in, and she added four top 10s with a trio of top-five results.
 
Kent debuted on the right foot, tying for 14^th in the Elon Invitational to earn her first top 20 right out of the gates. She followed up with her first top five, tying for third at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic by way of a 2-under 214. She would later open the spring slate with her best outing yet, tying for second in the Puerto Rico Classic. She again posted a 2-under 214, falling just one stroke short of the leader. Her 2-under par finishes are tied for fifth best in program history in relation to par. Also in Puerto Rico, Kent carded a low-round 68, tying for the third-lowest round score in program history. On top of it all, both of her 214 scores tied for the second-lowest 54-hole score in the program history.
 
With 57 birdies, she owns the fifth-most birdies in a season in program history. Her six rounds of par or better are third most in a season.
 
After an impressive freshman campaign, Kent will lead the Terrier back onto the course in the fall for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign looking to build on her historic rookie campaign.
 
2023-24 Southern Conference Player of the Year
Anna Morgan, 5th, Furman
 
2023-24 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year
Gabi Nicastro, Samford

2023-24 Southern Conference Coach of the Year
Stefanie Shelton, ETSU
 
2023-24 All-Southern Conference Team
Makenzie Cooper Chattanooga
Violeta Fernandez-Tagle, Chattanooga
Sophie Bert, ETSU
Brianna Castaldi, ETSU
Anna Morgan, Furman
Audrey Ryu, Furman
Mikayla Dubnik Mercer
Camilla Jarvela, Mercer
Gabi Nicastro, Samford
Brielle Mapanao, Western Carolina

2023-24 All-Freshman Team
Violeta Fernandez-Tagle, Chattanooga
Brianna Castaldi, ETSU
Audrey Ryu, Furman
Gabi Nicastro, Samford
Bella Kent, Wofford