Odyssey Sims jumps for a lay up.

Recap: Sims, Hull combine for 52 points in 90-84 win

© Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2023 / Credit: MK Ridgway
Eric Rhew
Mar 02, 2023

DALLAS — After taking over the top spot on the Athletes Unlimited Basketball leaderboard in Week One, guard Odyssey Sims will do whatever it takes to hold onto the throne and it was on clear display during Wednesday’s nightcap at Fair Park Coliseum.

Sims scored 21 of her season-high 31 points in the second and third quarters to lead Team Sims to its first win of Week Two with a 90-84 verdict over Team Hillmon. She earned MVP 2 honors and compiled 547 leaderboard points in the victory.

Guard Lexie Hull also played a pivotal role in Team Sims’ victory after nearly registering a double-double with 21 points and a season-high nine rebounds. The former Stanford star was named MVP 1 and racked up 609 leaderboard points, marking her second game with 600 or more points this season.

Guard Jordin Canada completed the MVP sweep for Team Sims after claiming MVP 3 distinction with 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Canada, who earned her third MVP award in four games this season, shot 4-for-6 from the field and was 3-of-5 at the foul line while tallying 459 leaderboard points.

Team Hillmon, which outrebounded Team Sims by a 43-36 count, was paced by 18 points from guard Layshia Clarendon, while team captain Naz Hillmon fashioned a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

KEY MOMENT

Sims captained her team to the comeback victory by outscoring Team Hillmon, 49-39, in the middle frames to take a 67-59 lead heading into the final stanza. The former Baylor guard shot 8-for-14 in the second and third quarters to spark the comeback.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Sims continued to stay at the top of the league ladder with 2,128 points and owns an 86-point advantage over forward NaLyssa Smith heading into their meeting on Friday night. Hull, meanwhile, stepped into the top four spots on the leaderboard with her performance on Wednesday night.

GAME NOTES

  • Team Sims challenged a personal foul against forward G’mrice Davis with 8:15 remaining in the fourth quarter … The challenge was unsuccessful and teams are now 6-for-11 (.545) in captain’s challenges this season.

  • Team Sims and Team Hillmon combined to make 15 three-pointers in Thursday’s nightcap, upping the league’s season total to 115 through eight 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 Sims matched a league season high with 11 steals against Team Hillmon on Wednesday … Team Cole had 11 thefts against Team Cloud last Thursday night.

  • Sims ran her streak of consecutive games scoring in double figures to 12 in a row after her 31-point showing … She has posted 18 double-figure outings in 19 career Athletes Unlimited games, including 11 games with 20 or more markers … It is also her fourth career 30-point effort.

  • Forward Theresa Plaisance authored her second double-digit scoring output of the season with 13 points … She also had 18 points in the season opener last Thursday against Team Sims.

  • Plaisance just missed her first double-double of the season after grabbing a season-high nine rebounds.

  • Clarendon, who fashioned her second double-digit scoring effort of the season, finished with a season-high 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field and 5-for-7 at the free throw line.

  • Hillmon reached double figures in scoring for the second time in her last three games after netting 17 points … She also authored her second double-double of the campaign with 13 rebounds.

  • Guard Kierstan Bell posted her third double-digit scoring effort in four games this season, closing play with 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field.

  • Guard Allisha Gray extended her double-digit scoring streak to four games after tallying 17 points.

  • Guard Air Hearn saw an end to her seven-game personal win streak … Hearn, who lost for the first time since Feb. 19, 2022, tied the league record for the longest personal win streak … Forward Toccara Ross won seven consecutive games from Feb. 4-18, 2022.

GAME MVPS

  • #1 – Lexie Hull (Team Sims, +90)
  • #2 – Odyssey Sims (Team Sims, +60)
  • #3 – Jordin Canada (Team Sims, +30)

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