Maya Caldwell dribbling, Champions Week in Nashville

Recap: Maya Caldwell anchors Team Harris in 100-97 win

Eric Rhew

Mar 01, 2025

NASHVILLE — Forward Maya Caldwell made 10-of-19 shots from the floor, including a 6-for-9 effort from three-point range, en route to a season-high 26 points as Team [Tyasha] Harris held off a late comeback bid by Team Sims to earn a 100-97 victory in the opening game of Saturday’s Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball doubleheader at Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

The win lifted Team Harris’ record to 1-1, while Team Sims slipped to 0-2 with its second straight loss.

Caldwell, who also added six rebounds and three steals, earned MVP 1 honors and 577 leaderboard points after anchoring five Team Harris players who scored in double figures. Guard Kiara Leslie added her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while guard Rebecca Harris chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Forward Alissa Pili added 14 points with six rebounds while captain Tyasha Harris contributed 17 points with seven rebounds and six assists.

Guard Odyssey Sims paced her squad in the loss with 32 points, six rebounds and six assists to claim MVP 2 distinction and 496 leaderboard points. The former Baylor standout was 12-for-25 from the field and converted 6-of-8 free throws.

Forward Isabelle Harrison secured MVP 3 accolades and 438 leaderboard points after scoring a season-high 27 points with eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

Guard Kia Nurse tallied 17 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field while connecting on 7-of-9 free throws. She also grabbed five rebounds with two blocked shots.

KEY MOMENT

With the score tied at 93-all, Tyasha Harris hit a jumper with 1:26 left before forward Dorie Harrison sank one of two free throws to give Team Harris a 96-93 edge. A pair of free throws by Isabelle Harrison narrowed the gap to 96-95 with 44.5 seconds remaining, but four free throws by Leslie in the final 11 seconds sealed the victory.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Sims remains in second place on the leaderboard with 5,944 points, while Isabelle Harrison rose two spots into sixth place and enters Sunday’s finale with 3,944 points.

NOTES OF INTEREST

Team Harris initiated a captain’s challenge with 3:10 remaining in the first quarter on an offensive foul called against Pili, which was unsuccessful … Team Harris also requested a captain’s challenge on an offensive foul called against Tyasha Harris with 51.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter, which was successful.
Team Sims initiated a captain’s challenge with 2:44 left in the second quarter on an out of bounds call, which was successful … The squad also requested a captain’s challenge with 1:10 remaining in regulation on a foul called against forward Alysha Clark, which was successful.
Team Harris and Team Sims played in the fifth game this season to be decided by five points or less, including the second instance this week.
Sisters Isabelle Harrison and Dorie Harrison competed against each other for the sixth time in their Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball careers in Saturday’s opener … Dorie Harrison has won five of the six encounters.
Team Harris became the third squad to net 100 or more points in a game this season … Team Westbrook scored a season-best 114 points on February 5 against Team [Kierstan] Bell, while Team Siegrist had 101 points against Team [Tyasha] Harris on February 14.
Sims has scored in double figures in 23 consecutive games dating back to last season, including all 11 fixtures this season, after finishing with 32 points … She has reached the 30-point plateau three times this year, which are the most in the league.
Harrison’s season-high 27 points marked her 21st game with 20 or more points in her Athletes Unlimited career.
Caldwell surpassed the 20-point mark for the second time this season … She has also reached double figures in scoring in six consecutive games.
Tyasha Harris has finished with 10 or more points in 10-of-11 contests this season.
Rebecca Harris registered her fifth double-digit scoring outcome of the season.
Nurse has posted 10 or more points in 8-of-10 games this season, including the last two in a row.
Dorie Harrison received her sixth personal foul with 45 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter … She is the second player to foul out of a contest this season, joining Nurse, who fouled out against Team [Isabelle] Harrison on February 8.
Harrison claimed the 20th Game MVP honor of her AU Pro Basketball career, becoming the third player in league history with 20 or more Game MVP certificates.
Sims garnered Game MVP recognition for the eighth time, which ranks second in the league behind forward Maddy Siegrist’s 10 Game MVP honors.