Recap: Team Bell secures close victory against Team Sims, 84-80
DALLAS — In a game that featured a league-record 23 lead changes, it was the final lead change by Team Bell that was the difference as a 24-point fourth quarter propelled the squad to an 84-80 victory over Team Sims to close out Friday night’s Athletes Unlimited Basketball doubleheader at Fair Park Coliseum.
The result allowed both teams to move their Week Four records to 1-1.
Forward Isabelle Harrison led the charge for Team Bell by scoring 10 of her 16 points in the second half to secure MVP 1 honors. Harrison, who also set a career high with 13 rebounds, finished the night with 539 leaderboard points to remain in third place in the league standings.
Team Bell captain Kierstan Bell followed with the MVP 2 distinction after pacing her squad with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-4 effort outside the arc, while sinking both of her free throws. Bell notched 531 leaderboard points in the victory.
Guard Lexie Hull completed the MVP triumvirate for Team Bell after posting her first Athletes Unlimited double-double with 13 points and a season-high 10 rebounds en route to securing 452 leaderboard points.
Guard Crystal Bradford anchored Team Sims with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, while team captain Odyssey Sims scored a game-high 21 points.
KEY MOMENT
Team Bell trailed by a 72-67 margin with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter before putting together an 11-0 outburst over the next four minutes to take a 78-72 lead on guard Evina Westbrook’s layup. Team Sims trimmed the deficit to 82-80 with 45.2 seconds left, but a Harrison bucket sealed the comeback victory.
LEADERBOARD IMPACT
Bell holds fifth place on the league’s leaderboard after rising two spots in the victory. Hull, meanwhile, elevated her position by one spot while Sims remains the league leader for the ninth consecutive game day.
GAME NOTES
-
Team Sims and Team Bell teamed up to sink 13 three-pointers in Friday’s nightcap, running the league’s season total to 329 triples through 22 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 and Team Bell traded the lead 23 times in Friday’s game, establishing a new Athletes Unlimited Basketball single-game record for lead changes … Team Hawkins and Team Cloud exchanged the lead 22 times during its overtime contest on Feb. 28, 2022.
-
Team Bell challenged a foul called against guard Air Hearn with 45.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter … The challenge was unsuccessful … Teams are now 12-for-28 (.429) in captain’s challenges through 22 games this season.
-
Team Sims and Team Bell battled to a 23-all tie in the first quarter, marking just the fourth tied quarter in regulation this season through 22 games.
-
Sims became the first player in Athletes Unlimited Basketball history to reach 10,000 career leaderboard points after closing the first quarter with 102 points … The former Baylor standout finished the night with 10,100 career leaderboard points with her 151 points against Team Bell.
-
Sims also netted 12 points in the opening frame, giving her 19 consecutive double-digit scoring performances … Sims has scored 10 or more points in 25-of-26 career Athletes Unlimited games.
-
Bell has authored seven double-digit scoring efforts in her last eight outings.
-
Bradford, who set a season high with her 14 boards, garnered her third consecutive double-double … Bradford owns seven double-doubles this season, the second-highest total in the league behind forward NaLyssa Smith’s nine double-doubles.
-
Harrison posted the sixth double-double of her Athletes Unlimited career, including her second of the season.
GAME MVPS
- #1 – Isabelle Harrison (Team Bell, +90)
- #2 – Kierstan Bell (Team Bell, +60)
- #3 – Lexie Hull (Team Bell, +30)
