Undeniably, Athletes Unlimited Basketball has delivered some instant classics and Team Hawkins and Team Cloud did that in Game 22. With this in mind, Team Hawkins was down by a 110-107 margin when guard Kelsey Mitchell hit a three-pointer with under five seconds remaining.
After Hawkins’ squad evened the score, guard Sydney Colson beat the buzzer with a triple near midcourt to lock up the victory. Her three-pointer to beat the overtime buzzer marked the fifth “buzzer-beater” in the league this season.
Overall, Team Cloud and Team Hawkins played the second overtime game in Athletes Unlimited Basketball this season. In Game Three, Team Carrington defeated Team Mitchell, 110-104, in the first overtime game that also ended in double overtime.
In addition, Team Hawkins went a flawless 27-for-27 from the charity stripe. The 27 converted free throws equal a league season-high. Furthermore, Team Cloud and Team Hawkins battled to a 36-34 score in the first quarter. The 70 combined points are the most scored in a single quarter this season.
What’s more, the squads combined to make 23 three-pointers, growing the league season total to 338 made three-pointers. In this case, Aspiration will plant 10 trees for every three-pointer made as part of its “Trees for Threes” initiative.
Team Hawkins (Team Gold)
Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
To begin, Mitchell authored her second straight 30-point performance after making in a season-high 33 points. The Indiana Fever guard also made five three-pointers, drained all six free throws, and added five rebounds with four assists.
Team captain, forward Tianna Hawkins, posted her league-leading seventh double-double of the season. It was the former Atlanta Dream forward’s fourth double-double in a row after scoring 16 points and contributing 14 rebounds.
Next, center Kalani Brown attained double figures in scoring in the last 10 games for the eighth time. The former Baylor Bear scored 17 points in the Game 22 win. Brown also snagged six bounds and blocked four shots, tying a league season-high.
Colson, who knocked down the winning basket, finished with 20 points to match her season-high. The 10-year WNBA veteran Colson went 6-of-9 from the floor, including a 2-for-5 effort from beyond the arc. Nevertheless, she also dished out six assists, giving her 32 assists over the last four games.
‼️ FOR THE WIN ‼️@SydJColson hits the half court shot as the buzzer goes off to win in OT 😱#SCTop10 | 📺: @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/pRW0XjN4uY
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 19, 2022
Additionally, guard Destinee Walker has scored in double figures in six consecutive games after getting 17 points in the win. The former Notre Dame guard was 5-for-11 from the field, including draining three shots from three-point range and hitting all four of her free throws.
Team Cloud (Team Blue)
Credit: Jade Hewitt Athletes Unlimited
Although Cloud’s team came up short, guard DiJonai Carrington set a pair of season highs with 41 points and 14 rebounds. In essence, she became the second player to net a 40-point game this season, joining Hawkins. The Connecticut Sun guard ended the game with 15 made baskets on a league season-high 31 attempts.
.@DijonaiVictoria’s world. We’re just living in it.#AUHoops | 📺: @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/qQO05CKnkX
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 19, 2022
Simultaneously, she equaled the Athletes Unlimited Basketball season-high with 14 rebounds in the loss, including 10 defensive caroms. The guard is the third player to collect 14 boards this season.
Summing up, guard Natasha Cloud scored a season-high 33 points. The Washington Mystics guard also set a league season-high with six made three-pointers and added seven rebounds with eight assists.
Cloud saw her streak of 26 consecutive made free throws snapped when she missed her first attempt in the first quarter. She missed just her third free throw of the season, making her next seven attempts to finish the game 7-for-8 at the line.
Athletes Unlimited Basketball: Game 22 MVPs (Total Points)
MVP 1: Colson (Team Hawkins) – 90 points (491 points)
MVP 2: Mitchell (Team Hawkins) – 60 points (560 points)
MVP 3: Carrington (Team Cloud) – 30 points (379 points)
Your Game 22 MVPs are…🥁
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) February 19, 2022
1⃣ @SydJColson
2⃣ @Kelz_Hoop
3⃣ @DijonaiVictoria #BeUnlimited | #AUHoops pic.twitter.com/oIttFUt0TH
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