NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Dayton senior Jodie Cornelie-Sigmundova has been named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year while freshman Lauren Cannatelli was tabbed the A-10 Rookie of the Year as announced by the conference office Tuesday.

Cornelie-Sigmundova led the A-10 in blocked shots averaging 3.6 blocks per game on the season. She currently ranks fourth in the NCAA in blocked shots per game. Following her first season at Dayton, Cannatelli averaged 10.6 points per game as a freshman. She was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on two different occasions during the year.

Cornelie-Sigmundova was also named to the All-Defensive and All-Academic Teams and Cannatelli also earned mention on the All-Rookie Team. Sophomore Jenna Burdette was named to the A-10 All-Conference Third Team.

Duquesne's April Robinson and Saint Louis' Jackie Kemph were named the league's Co-Players of the Year and the Billikens' head coach Lisa Stone earned Coach of the Year honors. Most Improved Player went to Samantha Tabakman of Rhode Island and Duquesne's Deva'Nyar Workman earned the Sixth Woman Award.

The major awards, All-Conference, All-Defensive and All-Rookie teams are selected by vote of the league's 14 head coaches. The All-Academic team is selected by the women's basketball sports information directors.
 
The 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship begins Wednesday with two first-round games that will air on the A-10 Network. Thursday features four second-round games and Friday is the quarterfinals. The A-10 Network will carry Thursday's games, while Friday's will be carried by American Sports Network (ASN). Semifinals begin Saturday at 11:00 am on CBS Sports Network and the Championship final is Sunday at Noon on ESPNU.

Eighth-seeded Dayton will square off against No. 9 George Mason on Thursday at 11 a.m.