Week Three of AU Basketball delivered and the matchup of Team Cloud and Team Harrison did as well. Overall, guard Taj Cole gave Team Harrison an 85-84 lead with 6.1 seconds remaining.
Next, Team Cloud captain, guard Natasha Cloud, was fouled with 3.6 seconds left in the game. At this point, Team Harrison challenged the play, which was not successful. As a result, Team Harrison was given a technical foul for not having timeouts left.
Cloud went to the charity stripe and hit all three free throws to get the 87-85 win. What’s more, Team Cloud came back from an 11-point deficit to get their first victory of Week Four. The win increased the blue jersey record to 4-6 this year, while the orange jersey teams fell to 5-5.
In contrast, Team Cloud outrebounded Team Harrison by a 42-41 margin, including a 13-10 edge on the offensive end. Even more, Team Cloud scored 10 second-chance points in the victory. There were eight ties and nine lead changes in Game 19 of AU Basketball.
Team Cloud (Team Blue)
Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
In this instance, guard DiJonai Carrington crafted her second double-double of the season after scoring 20 points with 11 boards. The Connecticut Sun player also reached double figures in scoring for the 10th time this season, the longest streak in AU Basketball. She also added her league-leading seventh 20-point performance.
By the same token, Cloud reached the 20-point mark for the second time this season after netting a game-high 27 points. The Washington Mystics guard was 6-for-8 from the field, making three shots from beyond the arc and draining all 12 of her free throws.
Captain @T_Cloud4 called game.#BeUnlimited | #AUHoops pic.twitter.com/sv7Nqi6pNi
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 17, 2022
Her 12 made free throws set an AU Basketball season high. Over the last four games, the 2019 WNBA Champion has hit 25 straight free throws. In total, she has now made 43-of-45, or 95.6 percent, of her free throws in 10 games this season.
Furthermore, forward Lauren Manis scored a season-high 20 points, including 18 in the first half. The first player in Holy Cross hoops history with 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds finished the game 42.6 percent from the field. She made all six of her free throws as well. The triumvirate of Cloud, Carrington, and Manis was responsible for 67 of Team Cloud’s 87 points.
Team Harrison (Team Orange)
Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
Despite losing the matchup, forward Isabelle Harrison just missed a triple-double in the loss for Team Harrison. She led her squad with 18 points, including 16 in the second half and 10 rebounds, while adding a season-high of eight assists. The Dallas Wings player also had a season-high four steals.
Similarly, guard Lexie Brown posted her eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season after chipping in 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. The former Chicago Sky guard went four of five from the three-point range. She also dished out five assists.
For reference please see attached video of @Lexiebrown being really, really good. https://t.co/6bUJ9D9qQU pic.twitter.com/lGZtGSJk6N
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 17, 2022
Forward Jantel Lavender fashioned her seventh double-digit effort with 12 points while adding seven rebounds. Significantly, Cole has scored in double figures in three straight games after scoring 14 points. Over the last three games, she has been averaging 16.7 points per contest, including a 22-point effort in Game 18 versus Team Hawkins.
AU Basketball: Game 19 MVPs (Total Points)
MVP 1: Cloud (Team Cloud) – 90 points (603 points)
MVP 2: Manis (Team Cloud) – 60 points (452 points)
MVP 3: Carrington (Team Cloud) – 30 points (383 points)
Your Game 19 MVPs are…🥁
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 17, 2022
1️⃣ @T_Cloud4
2️⃣ @TheManisLauren
3️⃣ @DijonaiVictoria #BeUnlimited | #AUHoops pic.twitter.com/TpHEe90e3o
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