As the final week of the AU Basketball season approaches, it looks like a sprint to the finish line. Odyssey Sims and NaLyssa Smith are atop the leaderboard, but Naz Hillmon and Isabelle “Izzy” Harrison are making their case. Nevertheless, Week Four provided some great individual efforts and close games. That being said, here’s a recap of the final four games of Week Four.
Game 21: Hillmon’s Team Cruises to 94 –80 win over Team Smith
All five starters hit double figures as Team Hillmon gets the win over Smith’s squad. Guard Allisha Gray led the team with 25 points, going nine of 16 from the field. Hillmon got herself a double-double, getting 23 points and 13 rebounds. It was also her second game of 20+ points this season.
Danni McCray scored 19 with nine boards while Natasha Cloud had 16 points with five assists for Hillmon’s squad. Additionally, Theresa Plaisance contributed 11 points, seven boards, and two blocks. Those two blocks gave her the AU Basketball single-season record with 19.
The duo of Smith and Kelsey Mitchell each had 24 points while Lexie Brown added 12 points in the loss. In all, both teams hit a combined 17 three-pointers in the matchup.
Game 22: Team Bell Uses the Final Quarter to Defeat Team Sims 84 -80
To begin, this game had a record 23 lead changes. Furthermore, Kierstan Bell has come on strong this season as she scored 17 points for her team. Furthermore, Bell had help in the form of two double-doubles from Harrison and Lexie Hull. Harrison put up 16 points and 13 boards while Hull had 13 points with 10 boards. Evina Westbrook and Air Hearn had 11 and 10 points, respectively for Team Bell.
Despite the loss, Sims made history as she became the first player to reach 10K career leaderboard points. In total, the guard had 151 leaderboard points, scoring 22 points against Bell’s squad. Jasmine Walker and Crystal Bradford had 15 points apiece as Bradford added 14 caroms to her stat sheet. Jordin Canada had 13 points and five assists for Team Sims.
Game 23: Team Bell Falls Short in Comeback Bid Versus Team Hillmon
Bell’s team nearly overcame a 19-point deficit but came up short in the waning moments of the matchup. Harrison led Team Bell with 21 points, the 14th 20-point game of her AU Basketball career, and the eighth this season. Layshia Clarendon had 19 points while Hull had 15. For Hull, it’s her seventh with 10+ points in her last nine games.
Overall, Bell’s squad shot 44.7 percent from the field and collected 42 rebounds in the matchup. As for Hilmon’s team, Cloud led the way with 20 points with six boards and assists in the victory. What’s more, Gray added 18 points while Hillmon had 16 to help the cause.
Game 24: An Offensive Explosion Sees Team Sims Get the Win over Smith’s Squad
If one loves offense, the Week Four finale is a game to watch as 204 combined points were scored. Sims gave another great performance with 33 points while Essence Carson drained three shots from downtown, scoring 21 points. Next, Walker had 16 points as Canada and Courtney Willams each scored 11 points for Team Sims.
Smith’s team had three players with over 20 points in the high-scoring affair, led by Smith’s 32 points and 14 boards. Mitchell had 28 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range. The Indiana Fever guard eclipsed the AU Basketball single-season record for total threes made with 42 in 12 games.
shooters shoot. 🙌
— Indiana Fever ⛹️♀️🏀 (@IndianaFever) March 19, 2023
Kelsey Mitchell now holds the record for most three-pointers in an Athletes Unlimited season with 42 3PM.
@Kelz_Hoop | #FeverUnlimited pic.twitter.com/1FFfbQyMQ9
Sydney Colson had 24 points, shooting over 56 percent from the field and connecting on four three-pointers. Brown contributed 12 points to Smith’s squad. Something of note, each team shot exactly 50 percent from the field.
The Final Captains of Season Two
Sims, Smith, and Hillmon return as captains this week, while Harrison is a captain for the second time this season.
Currently, the leaderboard has Sims holding a lead of just under 500 points over Smith, but could anyone’s race. Fans will see a champion crowned this coming week.
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