Ariana Bennett

Height:
6-1
Position:
Forward
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Edwardsville, Ill.
High School:
Cardinal Ritter College Prep
Prev School:
Southwestern Illinois

AS A JUNIOR (2024-25): Started in all 30 games … Turned in a team-best 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game … Also recorded 25 steals and 14 blocks … Shot 43.5 percent (111-for-255) from the field and 80.0 percent (92-for-115) from the free throw line … Tallied a double-digit point total 16 times including a season-best 21 points in home games with Appalachian State and Furman … Registered a lone double-double with 18 points and a season-high 13 boards against Charleston Southern … Grabbed a pair of blocks against both Jackson State and Samford … Turned in multiple steals nine times, including a season-best four against Furman at home.

BEFORE MERCER: Played two seasons at the junior college level … Started in 31 games for Southwestern Illinois as a sophomore (2023-24) and earned all-conference and all-region laurels at season’s end … Averaged a team-best 13.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game across a team-best 29.5 minutes an outing on the floor … Connected on 43.9 percent of her field goal attempts, while also logging double-digit point totals in in 28 outings, including a pair of 20+-point performances … Played freshman season (2022-23) at Moberly (Mo.) Area Community College … Saw action in 25 games (9 starts) and tallied 5.5 points and 3.1 rebounds an outing … Also added 12 blocks, 11 steals and a trio of assists.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played senior season for Cardinal Ritter College Prep and coach Tony Condra … Spent first three prep seasons at Edwardsville High School where she played for coach Katie Ponce.

PERSONAL: The daughter of Kayla Atchison and Justin Bennett … Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Cardinal Ritter College Prep … A kinesiology major at Mercer.

GET TO KNOW ARIANA

Pet peeve is nails on a chalkboard
Go-to snack is grapes
Usually refuses to share chocolate-covered strawberries
Has a fear of tight spaces
Best gift she ever received was Teddy The Unicorn from her friends
Favorite movie is Friday
Favorite food is any kind of pasta
Hopes to become an anesthesiologist and live in Dallas, Texas

CAREER HIGHS (Updated: 9/25/2025)
Points	21, twice - last vs. Furman (1/25/25)
FG	8, twice - last vs. Furman (1/25/25)
FGA	16 vs. Jackson State (12/19/24)
3FG	n/a
3FGA	1, three times - last at Samford (2/8/25)
FT	8 vs. Georgia Tech (12/8/24)
FTA	9, twice - last vs. Furman (1/25/25)
Rebounds	13 vs. Charleston Southern (11/22/24)
Assists	3, twice - last vs. East Tennessee State (2/15/25)
Steals	4 vs. Furman (1/25/25)
Blocks	2, twice - last at Samford (2/8/25)
Turnovers	6 at Florida Atlantic (11/9/24)
Minutes	39, twice - last at Samford (2/8/25)
10+ Points	16 times
10+ Rebounds	1 time
Double-Doubles	1 time
20+ Points	n/a
7+ Rebounds	9 times
5+ Assists	n/a
5+ Steals	n/a