Ariel Atkins drives to the net in the Eclipse's game against the Glow on Friday evening.

Recap: Ariel Atkins Sparks Eclipse Comeback in 89-83 Win

Eric Rhew

Feb 20, 2026

NASHVILLE — Guard Ariel Atkins scored a season-high 22 points to lead Eclipse to an 89-83 come-from-behind victory over Glow in Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball action at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on Friday evening.

The win evened Eclipse’s record to 1-1, while Glow dropped to 1-1 for its Week Three slate.

Atkins earned MVP 1 honors and a season-high 598 leaderboard points after converting 7-of-12 shots from the field, including a 3-for-5 effort from three-point range, while sinking all five free throws. She also added three rebounds and three assists.

Guard Shey Peddy, who secured her first career win as a captain, contributed 15 points with six assists and three rebounds to collect MVP 2 distinction and 552 leaderboard points. Forward NaLyssa Smith completed the Game MVP sweep after securing MVP 3 notice following a 17-point effort.

Glow was led in the loss by guard Kiara Leslie, who authored her second career double-double after matching her career high with 10 rebounds while adding 13 points. Guard Sarah Ashlee Barker paced Glow with 16 points after connecting on 7-of-13 field goal attempts in addition to grabbing four rebounds with two assists.

KEY MOMENT

Trailing by a 46-35 margin early in the third quarter, Eclipse scored 19 of the game’s next 23 points to take a 54-52 lead with 3:13 in the period. Glow narrowed the gap to 55-54 on a lay-up from forward Natasha Mack, but was unable to get any closer.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Mack moved into the top spot on the leaderboard after tallying 264 points in the loss. Center Mercedes Russell, who scored 11 points with five rebounds for Glow, surged into fourth place and has 3,278 points entering Saturday’s Week Three finale.

ECLIPSE NOTES

Eclipse was limited to just 10 points in the first quarter, marking the fewest points by a team in any period this season.
Eclipse trailed by 17 points with 6:24 remaining in the second quarter before coming back to defeat Glow on Friday, matching the second-largest comeback in AU Pro Basketball history … Team Sims rallied to defeat Team Smith, 102-101, after trailing by 17 points with 6:49 left in regulation on March 18, 2023.
Guard Ariel Atkins authored her fourth game with 10 or more points after her season-high 22 points on Friday … She also became the ninth player to register at least 20 points in a game this season.
Forward NaLyssa Smith has scored 15 or more points in 7-of-8 games this season after tallying 17 points on Friday night.
Forward Alissa Pili registered her fourth double-digit scoring output after contributing 11 points in Friday’s victory.
Shey Peddy claimed her third Game MVP selection in the last five games with her MVP 2 citation.

Next Game for Eclipse: Saturday, February 21, vs. Rhythm (6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT)

GLOW NOTES

Glow initiated a captain’s challenge with 3:25 remaining in the second quarter on a foul called against guard Jaylyn Sherrod, which was unsuccessful.
Glow also requested a captain’s challenge with 49.4 seconds in the fourth quarter on an offensive foul called against guard Kiara Leslie, which was unsuccessful after the call was confirmed.
Forward Natasha Mack saw her captain’s record fall to 1-1 after dropping her first game as a team leader.
Mack authored her sixth double-double in the last seven games after registering 12 points with 14 rebounds … Her six double-doubles are the most in the league this season.
Guard Sarah Ashlee Barker has scored 10 or more points in seven straight games after being held to just six points in her season opener.
Center Mercedes Russell finished in double figures for the fourth time this season after scoring 11 points on Friday.
Guard Kayana Traylor tallied 10 or more points for the fourth time this season, including her second straight game, after scoring 10 points on Friday night.