Recap: Courtney Williams seals 98-97 thriller against Team Harrison

Team Smith earned its first win of the final week with the one-point verdict, while Team Harrison also moves to 1-1 with its first setback of the week.

Williams, who claimed MVP 1 honors and 617 leaderboard points in the victory, secured the win with the jumper to complete a 16-point performance. The former South Florida standout was 7-of-9 from the field and split her two free throws.

Forward NaLyssa Smith, who netted 560 leaderboard points to move back into the lead, garnered MVP 2 distinction after guiding her squad to the victory. The Orange team captain scored a team-high 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field along with an 8-for-11 performance from the free throw line.

Guard Crystal Bradford completed the MVP trio for Team Smith after notching 25 points, six rebounds and five assists. Bradford finished the night with 581 leaderboard points after converting 8-of-15 field goal attempts along with 6-of-8 free throws.

Guard Kelsey Mitchell paced Team Harrison in the loss with a game-high 26 points while adding eight assists. Forward Theresa Plaisance added 21 points, including a 6-for-8 showing from beyond the arc.

KEY MOMENT

Team Harrison led by a 97-96 margin with 12 seconds remaining when guard Evina Westbrook drew a foul. Westbrook missed both free throws and on the ensuing possession, Williams nailed a jumper from the right baseline to give Team Smith the one-point advantage with 1.9 seconds left. After Team Harrison called timeout to advance the ball, Mitchell’s last second three-pointer missed the mark.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Smith’s 560 leaderboard points moved her into first place in the league standings pending the outcome of Friday’s nightcap between Team Hillmon and Team Sims. Harrison remains in fourth place and has a 155-point advantage over Mitchell.

GAME NOTES

• Team Harrison and Team Smith combined to make 20 three-pointers in Friday’s opener, upping the league’s season total to 409 triples through 27 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every three-pointer during the season as part of its ‘Trees for Threes’ initiative.

• Team Harrison challenged a foul called against forward G’mrice Davis with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter, which was unsuccessful … Team Smith also challenged an offensive foul against Williams with 18.3 seconds remaining, which was successful … Teams are now 16-for-36 (.444) in captain’s challenges through 27 games this season.

• Team Smith matched a season high by scoring 55 points in the first half … It is the fourth time this season a squad has tallied 55 points in the opening 20 minutes.

• Mitchell ran her streak of double-digit scoring efforts to six games after posting 26 points on Friday night, including 15 points in the first half … Mitchell knocked down 7-of-13 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 three-pointers, while sinking 9-of-11 free throws.

• Guard Layshia Clarendon authored their third straight double-digit scoring performances with 18 points … Clarendon netted 10 of the 18 points in the opening 20 minutes.

• Plaisance reached double figures in scoring for the third time in the last four games with 21 points … Plaisance also tied the Athletes Unlimited single-game record with her six made three-pointers.

• Bradford fashioned her sixth double-digit effort in the last seven appearances and also reached the 20-point mark for the fifth time this year.

• Guard Air Hearn has scored in double figures in four of her last five games after erupting for 13 points in the first half on 5-of-7 field goal attempts, including a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range … Hearn finished with 15 points.

• Forward Isabelle Harrison upped her string of consecutive double-digit scoring performances to 18 in a row with her 12-point effort on Friday night … Harrison also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in the loss for Team Harrison.

• Williams owns eight games with 10 or more points this season with her 16 points on Friday night.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Courtney Williams (Team Smith, +90)
• #2 – NaLyssa Smith (Team Smith, +60)
• #3 – Crystal Bradford (Team Smith, +30)