At any rate, a team looks for a bounce-back win and Team Cloud got one in Game 23 of AU Basketball. In this case, Team Cloud rallied from Game 22 overtime defeat by posting an 81-71 victory over Team Sims to wrap up its Week Four schedule. That being said, Team Cloud ends the week with a 2-1 record, while Team Sims fell to 1-2.
Overall, Team Cloud held a dominating 50-30 edge in rebounds, including a 16-8 upper hand on the offensive boards. Also, Team Cloud scored 19 second-chance points off those offensive caroms. Cloud’s squad and their 50 rebounds are the second-most in an AU Basketball game this season. Team Russell grabbed 51 rebounds in Game One versus Team Sims.
The squads combined to make 16 three-pointers, elevating the league season total to 354 three-pointers in 23 games. Aspiration will plant 10 trees for every made three-pointer this season as part of its “Trees for Threes” initiative.
Equally important, Team Cloud used 26 points off the pine. On this occasion, it was nine points each from center Imani McGee-Stafford and guard Air Hearn to guarantee the win. To be specific, McGee-Stafford made 3-of-6 field-goal attempts and 3-for-4 at the free-throw line, while Hearn connected on 4-of-5 shots from the field.
Team Cloud (Team Blue)
Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
Firstly, forward Lauren Manis posted her second double-double of the season in the victory for Team Cloud. The former Holy Cross marvel scored 16 points while grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds in 31 minutes of play. She has scored double figures in four of her last six AU Basketball games.
.@airswoopes22 is all of us while watching this @TheManisLauren euro 😨#AUHoops | 📺: FS2 @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/ta7LluHRcD
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 20, 2022
In comparison, guard/forward DiJonai Carrington, AU Basketball’s leading scorer, scored a game-high 28 points and added 11 rebounds. It was her fourth double-double of the season. The Connecticut Sun player has scored in double figures in all 12 games this season posted her league-leading ninth 20-point effort of the season.
Team Sims (Team Purple)
Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
Even though Team Sims was on the losing end, team captain Odyssey Sims tied Carrington for game-high honors with 28 points. She also was perfect in three trips to the free-throw line and notched seven assists with four rebounds.
By the same token, guard Courtney Williams constructed her third double-double of the season after scoring 17 points with a game-high 10 assists. She finished by snagging four rebounds.
HIT ‘EM WITH THE HESI @CourtMWilliams is unreal 😱#AUHoops | 📺: FS2 @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/JiswT5GEiZ
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 20, 2022
Next, guard Laurin Mincy rejected four shots to match the league single-game high, scoring nine points with three steals. Finally, center Nikki Greene got to double digits in scoring for the seventh time this year after pouring in 10 points. She barely missed a double-double after pacing Team Sims with nine boards.
AU Basketball: Game 23 MVPs (Total Points)
MVP 1: Carrington (Team Cloud) – 90 points (627 points)
MVP 2: Williams (Team Sims) – 60 points (287 points)
MVP 3: Sims (Team Sims) – 30 points (320 points)
Your Game 23 MVPs are… 🥁
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 20, 2022
1️⃣ @DijonaiVictoria
2️⃣ @CourtMWilliams
3️⃣ @Lucky_Lefty0 #BeUnlimited | #AUHoops pic.twitter.com/b3eCc9PEj5
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