All things considered, the first two weeks of the AU Pro Basketball season has provided the fans in Nashville with history and superb play. The leaderboard sees a familiar face atop it in Gold Rush captain Odyssey Sims. Games Thirteen and Fourteen were decided by single digits, including one down to the wire. That being said, here is a recap of the opening doubleheader in Week Three.
Game Thirteen: Rhythm Vs. Glow
Here, New York Liberty guard Rebekah Gardner and the Rhythm faced Phoenix Mercury center/forward Natasha Mack and the Glow. The first quarter was competitive as the Rhythm took an early 21 -20 lead over the Glow. Guard Emma Cannon of the Los Angeles Sparks led the scoring for the Rhythm with seven points. For the Glow, forward Dorie Harrison and guard Kayana Traylor led with five points each in the quarter.
Quarter number two saw the Glow jump out offensively as they scored 25 points in the quarter to the Rhythm’s 19. Firstly, Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles scored eight points for the Rhythm. Guard Jaylyn Sherrod of the Minnesota Lynx scored eight points in the quarter for the Glow. At halftime, the Glow held a 45 – 40 lead against the Rhythm.
In the third quarter, it was the Rhythm who outpaced the Glow scoring-wise 21 points to 18. Gardner led both the Rhythm and all scorers in the quarter with 10 points. Going into the final quarter, the Glow now held just a two-point lead of 63 – 61 versus the Glow.
While both squads each had 17 points in the fourth, it came down to the waning moments of the game. Gardner tied the game for the Rhythm 78 – 78 with 31 seconds left. However, Mack drained a jump shot with eight seconds remaining as the Glow won it 80 -78.
Rhythm Vs. Glow Stats Recap
Looking at MVP 1 Honors, Sherrod won it with her 15 point effort in 25 minutes of action for the Glow. Also, Traylor put up 15 points with six assists as Sparks guard Sarah Ashlee Barker continued her six-game streak of double-digit points with 14. Lastly, Mack took home MVP 3 Honors with yet another double-double in this AU Pro Basketball season. She scored 14 points with 17 rebounds, her third game with 15+ boards.
Photo Credit: Athletes Unlimited
Despite the tough loss, Gardner garnered MVP 2 Honors with a game-high 18 points along with six rebounds. Guard Kaitlyn Chen of the Golden State Valkyries scored 14 points with six assists. What’s more, Cannon and Charles had 12 points apiece. Cannon added eight boards as Charles nabbed nine in the game while Cooke scored 11 points.
Game Fourteen: Gold Rush Vs. Eclipse
The final game of the doubleheader saw Sims and the Gold Rush square off versus Indiana Fever guard Shey Peddy and the Eclipse. At the end of the first quarter, the Gold Rush took a 20 – 16 lead. Sims (10) and Sun forward Aneesah Morrow (six) accounted for 16 of the Gold Rush’s 20 points in the quarter. Guard Jacy Sheldon of the Washington Mystics led the Eclipse with five points.
Shifting to the second quarter, the scoring between the teams were even at 23 points each. Chicago Sky guard Kia Nurse put up 11 points for the Eclipse as Sims had seven for the Gold Rush in the quarter. At the half, the Eclipse were down 43 – 39 to the Gold Rush.
Photo Credit: Athletes Unlimited
Quarter number three saw a combined 50 points (Gold Rush – 27, Eclipse – 23) as the offense rose up. For the Gold Rush, Sims and Las Vegas Aces guard Kierstan Bell each scored five points. Peddy led the Eclipse with seven points as forward Teana Muldrow had six points via two three-pointers. Entering the fourth, the Gold Rush held a 70 – 62 lead over the Eclipse.
Although the Eclipse scored more points in the fourth quarter by a 26 – 25 margin, the Gold Rush got the 95 – 88 victory.
Gold Rush Vs. Eclipse Stats Recap
Once again, Sims gets MVP 1 Honors as the Fever guard scored 18 points with six assists for the Gold Rush. Additionally, Morrow put up 16 points with nine rebounds while Hall had 15 points in the win. Bell scored 11 points, nine of which came from beyond the arc. Finally, Dream guard Te-Hina PaoPao got 10 points in 22 minutes of play.
Kia Nurse led the Eclipse with 17 points as forward NaLyssa Smith of the Aces got herself a double-double with 16 points and 15 boards. Alysha Clark also had 16 points as the Mystics forward went a perfect three-of-three from three-point range. Peddy scored 12 points as Sheldon got 10 in the heartbreaking defeat.
You can follow me on Twitter. Also, follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the world of sports.
