Recap: Gray, Hillmon lead Team Hillmon to commanding win over Team Sims

Forward Naz Hillmon and guard Allisha Gray combined to score 57 points and grab 23 rebounds as Team Hillmon secured a 109-86 victory over Team Sims, setting the stage for an exciting final day of the 2023 campaign.

Hillmon, the game’s MVP 1 selection, paced her team with 30 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and 10-of-11 at the charity stripe. The former Michigan star grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to register 731 leaderboard points in the victory.

Gray, meanwhile, earned MVP 2 distinction after notching a double-double of her own by contributing 27 points with 11 rebounds to claim 597 leaderboard points. Gray was 10-for-20 from the floor and nailed all four of her free throws while dishing out four assists.

Guard Odyssey Sims, who owns the league’s top spot on the leaderboard for the 12th consecutive game day, scored a game-high 38 points to finish with MVP 3 honors. Sims, a Baylor alum, also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists over 38 minutes.

KEY MOMENT

Team Hillmon, which never trailed in the contest, set the tone early, surging to a 15-5 lead in the first 3 minutes, 22 seconds. Hillmon and Gray combined for 13 of the 15 points during the early run.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Sims will carry a 101-point advantage into the final day of competition over Hillmon, while forward NaLyssa Smith stands in third place followed by forward Isabelle Harrison. Team Sims and Team Smith square off in the final game of the season after Team Hillmon and Team Harrison renew acquaintances for the second time this year.

GAME NOTES

• Team Hillmon and Team Sims combined to make 15 three-pointers in Friday night’s finale, giving the league 424 made triples through 28 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every three-pointer made during the season as part of its ‘Trees for Threes’ initiative.

• Team Hillmon challenged a foul called against Hillmon with 9:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, which was unsuccessful … In addition, Team Sims challenged an out-of-bounds call with 7:04 left in the final period, which was successful … Teams are now 17-for-38 (.447) in captain’s challenges.

• Sims notched the eighth 30-point game of her Athletes Unlimited career after finishing with 38 points in Friday’s nightcap … Sims, who also extended her league-record streak of 20-point games to 11 in a row, netted 26 of them in the second half.

• Guard Essence Carson notched her second double-digit scoring output of the season after her 12-point performance on Friday night … Over the last three games, the former Rutgers standout is averaging 14.0 points per outing.

• Hillmon increased her double-digit scoring streak to 11 games after pacing her team with 30 points … She also registered her seventh double-double of the campaign with a game-high 12 rebounds.

• Gray has six consecutive games scoring in double figures after collecting 27 points on Friday … Gray also hit the 20-point plateau for the seventh time this year, including the fourth time in the last six appearances.

• In addition, Gray chipped in 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the campaign.

• Gray and Hillmon both reached the 20-point mark in the same game as teammates for the third time this season, accounting for 57 of Team Hillmon’s 109 points … The duo combined for 48 points against Team Smith on March 17 before teaming up for 50 points on Wednesday night against Team Smith.

• Cloud reached double figures in scoring for the fifth consecutive game after contributing 15 points against Team Sims … Cloud also dished out a season-high 10 assists to record the fifth double-double of her Athletes Unlimited career.

• Guard Lexie Brown posted her fifth double-digit scoring performance in the last six games after ending Friday night with 10 points.

• Guard Taj Cole secured her sixth double-digit scoring effort with 10 points on Friday night … It was her first game with 10 or more points since a career-high 29-point showing on March 10 against Team Smith.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Naz Hillmon (Team Hillmon, +90)
• #2 – Allisha Gray (Team Hillmon, +60)
• #3 – Odyssey Sims (Team Sims, +30)