By comparison, the start of the final week of AU Hoops seemed tame but there was still plenty of action. This week is all about the players positioning themselves on the leaderboard as there is much to be decided. The doubleheader saw all four teams score under 100 points but got another close game out of it. That being said, here is a recap of Games 19 and 20 of Week Four of AU Basketball.
Game 19: Team Cloud gets the W to open AU Hoops action
Credit: Sarah Smith/Athletes Unlimited
This game saw Natasha Cloud and her squad have the lead in all but one of the quarters en route to an 89-78 victory. Tiffany Mitchell scored 26 points and six assists in the win as it was her ninth straight game with 20+ points. Mitchell also took home MVP 1 honors for her effort.
Next, Danni McCray got MVP 2 honors despite playing 14 minutes. McCray had eight points, shooting 57.1 percent from the field. Also, Cloud earned MVP 3 honors with 12 points and five dimes in the win as it was the 16th Game MVP honor of her AU Hoops career.
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— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) March 21, 2024
Odyssey Sims led her team with 25 points, eight dimes, and six caroms while Air Hearn added 21 points and seven boards in the loss. Isabelle Harrison went 6-of-11 from the field with 13 points in 16 minutes off the bench.
Game 20: Team Bell outlasts Team Gray in a tight matchup
Credit: Sarah Smith/Athletes Unlimited
Without question, this game gave the fans at the Fair Park Coliseum some excitement up to the end. Allisha Gray and her team were down by a 70 – 56 lead entering the fourth quarter against Kierstan Bell‘s squad. While they had a 23 -18 advantage in scoring in the fourth, Team Gray fell short in the win column 88 – 83.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 25 points with seven assists for Team Bell as she earned MVP 1 honors, extending her AU Basketball record 22nd Game MVP honor. Mitchell made history by becoming the first player in league history with 100 career shots made from beyond the arc. She is the all-time leader in both three-pointers made and attempted.
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— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) March 21, 2024
Gray added another Game MVP to her stellar AU Hoops career with 32 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, getting MVP 2 honors. Bell rounded out the honors with 20 points and five boards in the victory. Additionally, Emily Engstler hit the glass as she tied a season-high with 15 caroms. It marked her third consecutive game with 10+ boards.
Sticking with rebounds, Theresa Plaisance grabbed 10 rebounds for Team Bell. It was her fourth 10+ rebounding effort this season and her third straight matchup. Plaisance has gotten 32 caroms over the last three games. Zia Cooke contributed 15 points for Bell’s team.
Three other players reached double-figures in points for Team Gray. Maddy Siegrist scored 15 points, Adut Bulgak got a double-double with 11 points and 13 boards, and Grace Berger got 10 points.
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