All things considered, the offense remains a constant theme in this AU Pro Basketball season. The leaderboard in Week Three was a reflection of that thanks to some great offensive efforts. Games 17 and 18, the final doubleheader of Week Three, was no different in that regard. That being said, here is a recap of the doubleheader from Nashville, Tennessee.
Game 17: Eclipse Vs. Rhythm
In this contest, Indiana Fever guard Shey Peddy and the Eclipse faced New York Liberty guard Rebekah Gardner and the Rhythm. Both teams were looking to end the week with a second win to their record. Following the end of the first quarter, the Eclipse had a 27 – 22 lead over the Rhythm.
Forward NaLyssa Smith of the Las Vegas Aces led the Eclipse with 10 points in the quarter. Also, former Rutgers and Boston College forward JoJo Lacey scored all six of her points in the quarter for the Eclipse. Gardner led the Rhythm with 10 points as guard Zia Cooke added six points in the quarter.
Quarter number two was the highest scoring one of the game with 54 points with 27 points apiece from each team. The Eclipse had four players each score five points in the quarter: Peddy, forwards Alissa Pili and Teana Muldrow, and Chicago Sky guard Ariel Atkins.
For the Rhythm, the duo of Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen and Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles accounted 19 of the team’s in the quarter. Charles scored 12 points as Chen put up seven. At halftime, the Rhythm were down 54 – 49 to the Eclipse.
Photo Credit: Athletes Unlimited
The third quarter saw another 50+ point quarter as the Rhythm took the edge scoring-wise by a 29 – 23 margin. Chen and Liberty forward Isabelle Harrison each scored six points for the Rhythm in the quarter. Pili and Guard Kia Nurse of the Sky had six and nine points, respectively, in the quarter for the Eclipse. Entering the fourth quarter, the Eclipse were down 78 – 77 against the Rhythm.
In the fourth quarter, it was another 50+ point as it was close in waning moments. Ultimately, Cooke gave the Rhythm a 102 – 101 lead with 47 seconds left via a layup. Chen cemented the game with a layup of her own as the Rhythm got the 104 – 101 win.
Eclipse Vs. Rhythm Recap
Looking at the Rhythm, Charles and her 24 points and nine rebounds garnered her MVP 3 honors. Chen scored 18 points as Harrison put up 17 points with five boards in the victory. For MVP 2 honors, Cooke won it with her 16-point performance. Finally, Gardner had 13 points along with five assists and rebounds in the game.
Six players put up double-digit points in the matchup for the Eclipse as Smith led the way with 21 points and six boards, winning MVP 1 honors. Pili scored 16 points on 60 percent shooting from the field while Peddy had 15 points. Next, Atkins had 14 points, Nurse with 11 points, and Muldrow had 10.
Game 18: Glow Vs. Gold Rush
Shifting to the final game of Week Three, Phoenix Mercury center/forward Natasha Mack and the Glow squared off versus Fever guard Odyssey Sims and the Gold Rush. At the end of quarter number one, the Gold Rush took a 27 – 19 over the Glow.
Mack and center Mercedes Russell scored four points each in the quarter for the Glow. However, Aces guard Kierstan Bell led the Gold Rush with 12 points as Sims has eight for the Gold Rush.
As for the second quarter, it was reminiscent of the first as Glow were held to under 20 points in the quarter with 15 points. On the other hand, the Gold Rush had 23 points in the quarter, led by Sun forward Aneesah Morrow with seven points. Forward Asia Taylor and her two three-pointers led the scoring for the Glow in the quarter. At the half, the Gold Rush had a commanding 50 – 34 lead over the Glow.
This time around, the Glow got the upper hand on the scoreboard with 23 points to the Gold Rush’s 15 in quarter number three. Taylor had six points as guard Kayana Traylor had five in the quarter for the Glow. The Gold Rush were led by Bell and her two three-pointers as Sims had five in the quarter. Now, the lead for Gold Rush was 63 – 57 going into the fourth quarter.
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— AU Pro Basketball (@AUProBasketball) February 22, 2026
In the end, Gold Rush stifled the Glow as they outscored them 21 – 15 in the fourth as they get the 84 – 71 win.
Glow Vs. Gold Rush Recap
In this instance, Sims took home MVP 2 honors as she scored a game-high 28 points with five assists. Bell won MVP 1 honors as she put up 21 points, going six-of-10 from beyond the arc. Morrow added 11 points and eight boards in the Gold Rush victory.
Taylor garnered MVP 3 honors as she scored 16 points, hitting three shots from three-point range. Additionally, Sherrod had 11 points and assists while Sun guard Bria Hartley scored 10 points. What’s more, Russell notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Glow.
Team Captains for Week Four of AU Pro Basketball
Heading into the final week of action, Sims takes the helm of the Gold Rush as she sits atop the leaderboard. Gardner will be the captain of the Glow, trailing Sims by 322 points. Furthermore, Charles and Bell will lead the Rhythm and Eclipse, respectively.
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