The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2017-18 Women's Basketball Roster
Roster
Ariel Atkins
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 5-11
- Class:
- Senior
- High School:
- Duncanville
- Hometown:
- Duncanville, Texas
- Major:
- Sport Management
CAREER STATISTICS [PDF] | CAREER GAME-BY-GAME [PDF]
AWARDS & HONORS
• AP Honorable Mention All-America [2018]
• WBCA Honorable Mention All-America [2017]
• WBCA All-Region [2017, 2018]
• Senior CLASS Award Finalist [2018]
• All-Big 12 [2016 Second Team, 2017 First Team, 2018 First Team]
• Big 12 All-Defensive Team [2017, 2018]
• Big 12 All-Tournament Team [2018]
• NCAA Bridgeport All-Regional Team [2016]
• Big 12 All-Freshman Team [2015]
• Big 12 Player of the Week [Jan. 15, 2018]
• USBWA National Freshman of the Week [Feb. 3, 2015]
• Big 12 Freshman of the Week [Nov. 24, 2014, Feb. 2, 2015]
• Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year [2014-15]
• Academic All-Big 12 [2015 Rookie Team, 2016 First Team, 2017 Second Team, 2018 Second Team]
• USA Basketball U23 National Team [2017]
• USA Basketball U18 National Team [2014]
• Morgan Wootten National High School Player of the Year [2014]
• High School All-American [consensus] [2013-14]
• Texas High School Player of the Year [consensus] [2012-13]
CAREER NOTES / RECORD BOOK
• Played in 121 career games with 100 starts.
• Scored in double figures 81 times in her career.
• Career free-throw percentage of 83.1 ranks fourth all-time in UT history.
• Career three-point percentage of 37.3 ranks sixth all-time in UT history.
• Career scoring total of 1,497 points ranks 20th all-time in UT history.
SENIOR [2017-18]
• All-Big 12 First Team selection and member of the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
• Named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.
• AP Honorable Mention All-America.
• Senior CLASS Award finalist.
• Played and started all 35 games, averaging 27.7 minutes per game.
• Was the only player in the Big 12 Conference to rank among the league’s top-20 in the eight statistical categories of points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, steals per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, field-goal percentage, three-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage.
• Second in the Big 12 in steals per game [2.5] and three-point field goal percentage [.420].
• Scored in double figures in 29 of 35 games, including her last 11 consecutive. Eclipsed the 20-point plateau on eight occasions.
• Was the team’s scoring leader in 13 games.
• Led her team in both points per game [14.9] and steals per game [2.5]. Also averaged 5.5 rebounds per game 3.2 assists per game and 0.7 blocks per game.
• Shot 53.4 percent [197-of-369] from the field, 42 percent [50-of-119] from three-point range and 85.9 percent [79-of-92] from the free-throw line.
• Posted a perfect free-throw percentage in 14 games.
• Came up with three or more steals in 18 games.
• In three NCAA Tournament games, averaged 16.0 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game. Also added 11 assists and four steals.
• Scored 20 points, including four three-pointers, with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in her final collegiate game against No. 9/9 UCLA [March 23].
• In the Big 12 Quarterfinals against Iowa State [March 3], charted a team-high 25 points [which tied for the game high], made a career-best five three-pointers, brought down four rebounds, dished out four assists, blocked two shots and came up with three steals in 35 minutes of play.
• Scored a team-high 20 points to lead Texas in a road win at Iowa State [Feb. 24]. Was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line and also brought down four rebounds.
• Was the spark for Texas in a road win at West Virginia [Feb. 5]. Totaled 17 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter alone. Drained three three-pointers, dished out four assists and blocked two shots in 28 minutes of play.
• Helped Texas to the largest margin of victory [+51] in a Big 12 Conference game in school history at Texas Tech [Jan. 20]. Tallied a game-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 27 minutes of play.
• In Texas’ narrow loss to No. 1/1 UConn [Jan. 15], scored 14 points with three rebounds and three assists.
• Named Big 12 Player of the Week on Jan. 15 for her performances in her team’s games against TCU and Kansas. In that two-game span, averaged 23.5 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 5.5 steals per game, 3.5 assists per game and 2.5 blocks per game. She shot 60.7 percent [17-of-28] from the field and 90 percent [9-of-10] from the free-throw line.
• Registered a game-high 22 points to go along with nine rebounds, a career-high six steals, three assists and three blocks in 31 minutes vs. Kansas [Jan. 13].
• Scored 25 points, made three three-pointers, brought down six rebounds, dished out four assists and came up with a then-season-high five steals in 37 minutes at TCU [Jan. 10].
• In a win against No. 12/10 Florida State [Dec. 17], garnered 17 points, brought down eight rebounds, dished out four assists and came up with four steals in 32 minutes of play.
• Against No. 11/13 Tennessee [Dec. 10], scored a team-high 21 points – 19 of which came in the second half – and was 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Also brought down four rebounds and came up with three steals in 27 minutes.
JUNIOR [2016-17]
• All-Big 12 First Team selection and a member of the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
• WBCA Honorable Mention All-America.
• Played in 32 games, starting all 32 of them. Averaged 26.6 minutes per game of action.
• Averaged 12.8 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game. Ranked second on her team and 16th in the Big 12 in scoring.
• Led the Big 12 Conference in steals per game with 2.0.
• Shot a team-best 81.8 percent [72-of-88] from the free-throw line, which ranked sixth in the Big 12.
• Scored in double figures on 22 occasions, including four 20-point performances.
• Had three or more steals in 12 games during the year.
• Posted a perfect free-throw percentage in 18 games.
• Recorded a team-high 18 points to go along with four rebounds in the NCAA Regional Semifinal vs. No. 6/6 Stanford [March 24].
• Tallied 12 points and brought down three rebounds in the Big 12 Tournament Semifinal against West Virginia [March 5].
• Charted 14 points, five rebounds and a game-high three steals vs. No. 4/4 Baylor [Feb. 20]. Was 5-for-5 from the free-throw line in that contest.
• Scored 21 points, brought down seven rebounds and came up with two steals in a double-overtime victory against No. 5/4 Florida State [Feb. 13].
• Totaled 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting and brought down three rebounds in a win at No. 2/2 Baylor [Feb. 6].
• Notched a career-high 26 points to go along with three rebounds and two steals at Oklahoma State [Feb. 1]. Went 11-of-13 from the field in that contest.
• Had a game-high 17 points complimented by four rebounds, two assists and three steals at TCU [Jan. 25].
• Charted 19 points with four rebounds and a game-high three steals against No. 20/20 Oklahoma [Jan. 17].
• Recorded 14 points, five rebounds and a game-high four steals vs. TCU [Jan. 7].
• Scored a game-high 25 points, including three three-pointers, in a win at Iowa State [Jan. 1].
• Tallied 15 points and five rebounds vs. New Orleans [Dec. 20].
• Sat out the Tennessee [Dec. 11] and UT Rio Grande Valley [Dec. 15] games after suffering a concussion in the first quarter of the UConn game [Dec. 4].
• Notched 14 points and four assists against No. 3/3 South Carolina [Dec. 1].
• Recorded 14 points with four steals and three assists in 31 minutes of play at No. 11/10 Stanford [Nov. 14].
SOPHOMORE [2015-16]
• All-Big 12 Second-Team selection.
• Played in the last 27 games of the season after sitting out the first nine due to injury. Started in 14 games for the Longhorns.
• Led the team in field-goal percentage [.536] and free-throw percentage [.819], and was third in scoring with 302 points [11.2 points per game].
• Scored in the double digits 16 times, including posting double-figures in all four games of the NCAA Tournament.
• Played in all four NCAA Tournament games to help Texas reach its first Elite Eight since the 2003 season. In NCAA play alone, led the team with 72 points [18 points per game] behind a 29-of-46 effort from the floor [.609] and a 7-of-12 effort from the three-point range [.538]. She was second on the team in rebounding with 23 boards [5.8 rebounds per game]. Earned a spot on the Bridgeport All-Region Team.
• Was the leading scorer for Texas on six different occasions and led the team in rebounding three times.
• Posted 19 points and swiped three steals against UConn [March 28] in the NCAA Regional Final.
• Scored 16 points and had eight rebounds against UCLA [March 26] in the NCAA Regional Semifinal.
• Logged a team-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds against Missouri [March 21] in the NCAA Second Round.
• Scored 16 points and brought down four boards against Oklahoma State [Feb. 10].
• Charted her first career double-double and led all scorers with 22 points and 11 rebounds at Iowa State [Feb. 6].
• Totaled 11 points behind a 4-for-4 shooting effort against Oklahoma [Jan. 23].
FRESHMAN [2014-15]
• All-Big 12 Freshman Team member.
• Played in 27 games with 19 starts. Averaged 23.9 minutes per game. Missed eight games in December and January due to injury.
• Led the team in scoring during Big 12 play [10.4 points per game], and in overall free-throw percentage [.825; 66-of-80 FT].
• Made the first 14 free throws of her collegiate career.
• A three-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week and selected as the USBWA National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 3.
• Reached double figures in points 14 times, including one 20-point effort.
• Led or tied for the team lead in scoring on four occasions.
• Preseason accolades included Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Sporting News Preseason Third Team All-American.
• Scored a team-high 11 points in 23 minutes against UConn [March 28] in the NCAA Sweet 16.
• Tallied 12 points with eight rebounds in 26 minutes against TCU [March 7] in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship in Dallas.
• Totaled 15 points [including 6-of-6 FT] with three assists and two steals in 35 minutes of an overtime contest at West Virginia [March 1].
• Scored 12 points in 28 minutes of action against Oklahoma State [Feb. 25].
• Scored 15 points at Kansas [Feb. 14] -- all in the first half -- while totaling six rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes.
• Registered a game-high 18 points with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals at Kansas State [Feb. 4].
• Went 8-of-9 from the free throw line in 29 minutes at TCU [Feb. 2], totaling 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Notched a season-high 21 points in 40 minutes of a double overtime win against No. 24 Oklahoma [Jan. 29].
• Injured during practice in December and missed eight games from Dec. 14 to Jan. 14. Was averaging 10.6 points with a .870 free throw percentage [27-of-31 FT] at the time of her injury.
• Recorded nine steals over a two-game span, registering four against New Mexico [Dec. 3] and five against Southern [Dec. 8].
• Scored 12 points [5-of-9 FG] with three rebounds and two assists in a 72-59 victory over No. 4/5 Tennessee [Nov. 30].
• Recorded a season-high five assists against UT-Pan American [Nov. 26].
• Named Big 12 Freshman of the Week after averaging 15 points and 3.5 rebounds in UT’s wins at No. 6/1 Stanford and UCLA.
• Posted 14 points with two steals in 19 minutes at UCLA [Nov. 23].
• Scored 16 points with four rebounds and a steal in UT’s 87-81 overtime victory at No. 6/1 Stanford [Nov. 20].
• Started in her collegiate debut against UTSA [Nov. 15], registering six points [4-of-4 FT] and two assists in 27 minutes.
USA BASKETBALL
• One of 12 members named to the 2014 USA Basketball U18 National Team on May 26, 2014. Won a Gold Medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Colorado Springs, Colo., helping Team USA to a 5-0 record from Aug. 6-10, 2014. Started in all five games of the competition, totaling 23 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and 11 steals.
• A member of the USA Basketball U23 National Team that captured the inaugural U24 Four Nations Tournament in Tokyo in the summer of 2017. Started all three games of the tournament for the United States.
BEFORE TEXAS
• Played four varsity seasons at Duncanville High School, where she earned consensus All-American honors and led her team to a pair of Texas UIL Class 5A state titles [2012, 2013], a 105-game winning streak, and a combined record of 148-10.
• Ranked as the No. 4 overall recruit and No. 1 guard in the class of 2014, according to ESPN.com, when she signed a National Letter of Intent to attend The University of Texas on Nov. 13, 2013.
• Coached by former Longhorn Cathy Self-Morgan at Duncanville HS.
• Named the 2014 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year, given annually to the best male and female McDonald's All-American players who exemplify outstanding character, exhibit leadership and embody the values of being a student-athlete in the classroom and the community.
• Played in the McDonald’s All American Game with UT teammate Brooke McCarty in Chicago [April 2, 2014]. Finished with 12 points on 6-of-14 shooting in 20 minutes. Scored a team-high eight points in the first half.
• As a senior in 2013-14, received consensus All-American honors from Parade Magazine, MaxPreps.com, McDonald’s, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association [WBCA] and USA TODAY [second team]. Was the Dallas Morning News All-Metro Player of the Year [2014], the Texas Girls Coaches Association [TGCA] Class 4A-5A Athlete of the Year, and Class 5A First Team All-State [TABC, TGCA]. Started in all 36 games and averaged 17.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.8 steals and 3.9 assists. Led Duncanville to a 35-1 record and the Texas UIL Class 5A state title game.
• As a junior in 2012-13, named the consensus Texas Girls Player of the Year by Gatorade, Dallas Morning News and TABC. Named Third Team All-American by MaxPreps.com. Dallas Morning News All-Metro Player of the Year. Led Duncanville to a second consecutive Texas UIL Class 5A state title and a perfect 40-0 record. Averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 steals, 6.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 49.2 percent from behind the arc.
• As a sophomore in 2011-12, named first-team Class 5-5A All-District and Academic All-District. Started in all 40 games and averaged 10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 3.2 steals and 1.4 blocks. Led Duncanville to a 39-1 record and a Texas UIL Class 5A state title.
• As a freshman in 2010-11, named Honorable Mention All-District 5-5A and Academic All-District. Played in all 35 games and averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds. Helped Duncanville to a 29-6 record and the regional semifinals of the state tournament.
• Featured in the Feb. 11, 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated in the Faces in the Crowd section.
• Participated on the Cy-Fair Shock and Duncanville Pantherettes AAU teams.
ACADEMICS & COMMUNITY
• Graduated in May 2018 with a bachelor's degree in sport management.
• 2018 Senior CLASS Award finalist.
• 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team nominee.
• Academic All-Big 12 [2015 Rookie Team, 2016 First Team, 2017 Second Team, 2018 Second Team].
• At Duncanville High School, was a member of the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Volunteered for an elementary school student-mentorship program.
• Named Academic All-State in 2014 by the Texas Girls Coaches Association [TGCA] and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches [TABC]. A four-time Academic All-District 7 5A honoree [2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014].
PERSONAL
• Born on July 30, 1996 in Dallas, Texas.
• Daughter of Byron and LaShonda Atkins. Has an older sister, Jessica, and a younger brother, Byron Jr.
• Participated in the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere [FLAME] program during the summer of 2016.
| CAREER HIGHS | ||
| CATEGORY | STATISTIC | OPPONENT [MONTH/YEAR] |
| Points | 26 | at Oklahoma State [02/17] |
| Rebounds | 11 | at Iowa State [02/16] |
| Assists | 7 | vs. Louisiana Tech [11/17] |
| Steals | 6 | vs. Kansas [01/18] |
| Blocks | 3 | 2x., last vs. Kansas [01/18] |
| Field Goals | 11 | at Oklahoma State [02/17] |
| 3-Point Field Goals | 5 | vs. Iowa State [03/18] |
| Free Throws | 8 | 2x., last at Tennessee [12/17] |
| Minutes | 40 | vs. Oklahoma [01/15] |
