As noted, Athletes Unlimited Basketball has given us offense and Team Hawkins delivered in Game 16. In this instance, Team Hawkins, led by former Atlanta Dream forward Tianna Hawkins, overcame a 56-48 third-quarter deficit by going on a 28-6 run.
The run lasted over 8 minutes, 23 seconds to grab a 76-62 lead. But, more importantly, guard Sydney Colson led the way with 11 of her season-high 20 points in this Athletes Unlimited Basketball game.
In sum, Team Hawkins made all 10 of its free throws in the Game 16 win over Team Cloud, led by Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud. Moreover, it is the second time a team hasn’t missed from at the charity stripe this season.
Overall, Team Hawkins scored more than Team Cloud by a 30-12 margin in the fourth quarter. It marked the biggest margin in a quarter this season. However, Team Cloud won the rebounding matchup versus Team Hawkins, 41-38. In addition, team Hawkins held a dominating 23-2 difference in bench points over Team Cloud.
Team Hawkins (Team Gold)
Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
To begin, Hawkins registered her league-leading eighth double-digit scoring effort with a game-high 28 points, including 19 in the first half. In addition, she posted her fourth double-double after grabbing 13 rebounds, including seven in the first quarter. The Dream forward set a league season-high with 13 defensive boards.
She also stretched her streak of 20-point games to five in a row, the longest streak in the league this season. Hawkins is averaging 30 points per game in Athletes Unlimited Basketball throughout the five-game streak.
Comparatively, Colson scored a season-high 20 points to earn her first 20-point game of the season for Team Hawkins. She finished the game, adding a game-high nine assists.
MONEY. SYDNEY COLSON IS MONEY. @SydJColson | 📺: FS2 @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/fQd5PieHJ5
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 12, 2022
Next, forward Jessica Kuster made her first start of the season in the win. She scored eight points and contributed seven season-high rebounds in 37 minutes for Team Hawkins.
Concurrently, guard Destinee Walker extended her streak of double-digit scoring performances to three in a row after getting 11 points. Walker also got four steals in the victory. Guard Air Hearn set a season-high by scoring 14 points off the bench. She knocked down a season-high four three-pointers while grabbing a season-high five rebounds.
Team Cloud (Team Blue)
Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
All things considered, guard DiJonai Carrington notched her league-leading eighth double-digit scoring performance with 24 points. The Connecticut Sun player went 10-for-20 from the field and 1-for-3 at the charity stripe.
The steal 👀 The finish 🥵@DijonaiVictoria does it all 😤#AUHoops | 📺: FS2 @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/I85zJh9GQ9
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 12, 2022
She got 14 of her points in the first half. As a result, she reached the 20-point mark for the fifth straight game; she owns a league-best six 20-point games in eight appearances.
At the same time, guard Essence Carson tallied 11 points in the first half to get her fifth double-digit performance in eight games this season. The 2016 WNBA Champion with the Los Angeles Sparks had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 at the free-throw line. Carson also nabbed three rebounds with an assist.
On this occasion, center Drew Edelman set a pair of season highs by scoring 15 points with 14 rebounds, earning her first double-double of the season. She also reached her second straight double-digit scoring effort. Lastly, this season, the former USC Trojan’s 14 rebounds are the most by an Athletes Unlimited Basketball player.
Athletes Unlimited Basketball: Game 16 MVPs (Total Points)
MVP 1: Colson (Team Hawkins) – 90 points (481 points)
MVP 2: Hawkins (Team Hawkins) – 60 points (533 points)
MVP 3: Hearn (Team Hawkins) – 30 points (384 points)
Your Game 16 MVPs are… 🥁
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 12, 2022
1️⃣ @SydJColson
2️⃣ @t_hawk21
3️⃣ @that_HEARN_kidd #BeUnlimited | #AUHoops pic.twitter.com/lWt9weWiAc
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