Recap: Long-Range Barrage Sends Team Bell to 111-90 Victory

The win elevated Team Bell’s record to 3-0, while Team Cloud dipped to 1-2 after suffering its second straight setback.

Kelsey Mitchell, the game’s MVP 1 honoree, converted 12-of-19 shots from the floor, including a 5-for-11 effort from three-point range, while connecting on four of her five free throws. The former Ohio State sharpshooter also chipped in five assists to close her season with a career-high 753 leaderboard points.

Bell, meanwhile, powered her squad’s record-setting assault from three-point range, making 5-of-14 attempts from beyond the arc as part of her 21-point performance. She also added four rebounds to secure MVP 2 recognition and 594 leaderboard points.

While Bell and Kelsey Mitchell were leading the offensive charge, forward Emily Engstler took aim on the league record book for the second straight outing. The former Louisville standout grabbed a league-record 19 rebounds and added 11 points to record the first double-double of her Athletes Unlimited career.

Guard Tiffany Mitchell paced Team Cloud in the loss, claiming MVP 3 notice on the strength of a season-high 32 points. She was 12-for-25 from the field and sank all six of her free throws while adding five rebounds.

Guard/forward Haley Jones also fashioned the first double-double of her Athletes Unlimited career after netting a season-high 21 points with 11 rebounds.

KEY MOMENT

Team Bell broke a 14-14 tie by scoring 15 of the final 20 points in the opening period to take a 29-19 advantage it did not relinquish. The lead ballooned to as much as 26 points in the first half as Team Bell never trailed after the game-deciding run.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

The victory allowed Bell to vault into second place on the leaderboard with 5,689 points while guard Natasha Cloud slipped to third place in the league standings with 5,602 points. Guard Zia Cooke and forward Theresa Plaisance each rose six spots on the leaderboard to 15th and 17th places, respectively.

NOTES OF INTEREST

• Teams are now 12-for-35 in captain’s challenges through 23 games this season … Team Bell initiated a captain’s challenge on a foul called against Bell with 1:28 remaining in the second quarter, which was unsuccessful.

• Team Bell’s 19 made three-pointers and 48 three-point attempts against Team Cloud broke the league’s single-game records … Team Sims set the previous mark with 17 made triples against Team Cole on February 24, 2023, before Team Team Mitchell matched the standard with 17 three-pointers against Team Gray on March 16, 2024.

• The previous single-game record for three-point attempts was set by Team Hawkins on February 26, 2022, with 40 attempts against Team Cloud in a triple-overtime contest.

• Team Bell set a new league record with its 25 three-point field goal attempts in the first half … The 25 three-point attempts are the most by a team in any half, eclipsing the 24 tries by Team Mitchell in the first half against Team Gray on March 16, 2024.

• Engstler established a new Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball record by grabbing 13 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes, which are the most by any player in a single half in league history.

• Engstler also set a new league record for rebounds in a single week after finishing with 52 caroms in her three games.

• Kelsey Mitchell converted the second four-point play this season with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter after being fouled on a three-pointer and making the ensuing free throw … Guard Essence Carson also had a four-point play against Team Cloud on March 10.

• Tiffany Mitchell finished the season with 20 or more points in her final 11 games, including seven outings with at least 25 points … She also collected seven Game MVP awards over the 11-game span.

• Kelsey Mitchell, meanwhile, owns a league-record 24 Game MVP awards in her three-year career, including 10 MVP 1 commendations … She reached the 30-point mark for the fourth time in her career, including the second time this year.

• Kelsey Mitchell ended the season by earning a Game MVP award in five of her final six contests.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Kelsey Mitchell (Team Bell, +90)
• #2 – Kierstan Bell (Team Bell, +60)
• #3 – Tiffany Mitchell (Team Cloud, +30)