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ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers
Association has selected Texas' Ariel Atkins as its Women's National
Freshman of the Week for games
ending the week of Sunday, Feb. 1. The USBWA's weekly honor will
be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 17 this season.
As the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Week,
Atkins earned consideration as a nominee for the weekly award,
which was chosen by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for
women’s basketball, from a list of Division I conference
freshmen of the week. This is the second time this season the
USBWA has honored her as the National Freshman of the Week.
Atkins, a 5-11 guard from Duncanville, Texas, averaged 17
points in two games, and shot 15-for-17 from the free throw line
in those two games. She scored 21 points in the Longhorns'
double overtime win against then-No. 24 Oklahoma last Thursday
and added 13 in a loss at TCU on Sunday.
Since the 2003-04 season, the USBWA has named a Women's
National Freshman of the Year. At the 2012 Women's Final Four in
Denver, the organization announced going forward that the
national and weekly player award has been named for Hall of
Famer and former UCLA All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale and
another famous name in women’s basketball name is being
deliberated for the freshman award. At the conclusion of the
regular season, the freshman of the year will be voted on by the
entire USBWA membership. The winner of the 2015 Women’s National
Freshman of the Year will be announced and presented at the
USBWA's annual awards event in Tampa, site of the 2015 NCAA
Women’s Final Four.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in
1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers.
With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential
organizations in college basketball. It has selected a women's All-America
team since the 1996-97 season. For more information on the USBWA
and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at
314-795-6821.
2014-15 Women's National Freshmen of the Week
• Week ending Dec. 7: A'ja Wilson, South Carolina (Southeastern Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 14: Kaylee Johnson, Stanford (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 21: Azurá Stevens, Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 28: Brianna Turner, Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 4: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (Big Ten Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 11: Ashunae Durant, Hofstra (Colonial Athletic Association)
• Week ending Jan. 18: Brianna Turner, Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 25: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (Big Ten Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 1: Ariel Atkins, Texas (Big 12 Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 8: Azurá Stevens, Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 15: Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State (Southeastern Conference)
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