Recap: Team Hillmon rallies for huge comeback victory over Team Smith

Forward Naz Hillmon converted a traditional three-point play with three seconds remaining to complete her squad’s comeback with an 85-83 victory over Team Smith to begin Week Five at Fair Park Coliseum.

Hillmon, who secured MVP 1 honors in the victory, scored eight of her game-high 25 points in the final frame as Team Hillmon rallied from a 12-point hole to secure the verdict. She shot 8-for-16 from the field in addition to a 9-of-11 effort at the free throw line to finish with 602 leaderboard points.

Guard Allisha Gray matched Hillmon’s 25-point outing by shooting 7-of-15 from the field and sinking all nine free throws to earn MVP 2 honors and end the night with 504 leaderboard points.

Guard Crystal Bradford received MVP 3 distinction in the loss for Team Smith after netting a team-high 20 points with eight rebounds. The Central Michigan standout was 9-for-19 from the floor and also added three assists en route to 260 leaderboard points.

Forward NaLyssa Smith added a double-double in the loss with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

KEY MOMENT

After falling behind by an 81-69 count on a pair of free throws from guard Lexie Hull, Team Hillmon went to work and put together a 16-2 run over the next 3:40, including a traditional three-point play by Hillmon with 3.0 seconds left. Team Smith was forced to take a pair of timeouts before guard Jordin Canada’s last-second heave fell short.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Smith and Hillmon switched spots on the leaderboard after Wednesday’s opener, while Canada moved into fourth place in the league standings with a three-spot improvement pending the outcome of the second game between Team Sims and Team Harrison.

GAME NOTES

• Team Hillmon and Team Smith combined to make 11 three-pointers in Wednesday’s Week Five opener, upping the league’s season total to 373 through 25 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every three-pointer made as part of its ‘Trees for Threes’ initiative.

• Team Hillmon and Team Smith battled to a 20-20 tie in the third quarter, marking the fifth quarter in regulation to finish with a tie score in 25 games this season.

• Team Hillmon challenged an out-of-bounds call with 2:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, which was unsuccessful … Team Smith also initiated a challenge of a foul call against forward Lydia Rivers with 48.4 seconds left in the final frame, which was unsuccessful

• Teams are now 14-for-33 (.424) in captain’s challenges … Of the 33 challenges this season, 22 have come in the fourth quarter and overtime periods.

• Smith authored her league-leading 11th double-double of the season, tying the single-season mark established by forward Tianna Hawkins in the inaugural campaign.

• Smith also reached double figures for the 13th consecutive game, while notching her sixth double-digit rebounding effort in the last seven appearances.

• Bradford tallied her 11th double-digit scoring output of the year after finishing with 20 points … She also registered her fourth performance with 20 or more points this season.

• Canada owns 11 double-digit scoring performances following her 14 points to begin Week Five … Canada also extended her streak of games with five or more assists to 10 in a row after collecting six assists in Wednesday’s opener.

• Hull registered her fourth consecutive game with 10 or more points by adding 13 points in the loss for Team Smith … She also matched her season high with five assists while grabbing four rebounds.

• Guard Air Hearn came off the bench to post her seventh double-digit scoring effort of the season … Hearn finished with 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field, including a 3-of-4 outing from three-point range.

• Hillmon has 10 straight double-digit performances after gathering 25 points on Wednesday night … She also registered her sixth double-double of the campaign after adding 12 rebounds.

• Gray chipped in 25 points for Team Hillmon on Wednesday night to fashion her fifth straight game with 10 or more points.

• Guard Natasha Cloud has 22 double-digit scoring performances in her Athletes Unlimited career, including 10 instances this season, after finishing Wednesday night with 14 points.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Naz Hillmon (Team Hillmon, +90)
• #2 – Allisha Gray (Team Hillmon, +60)
• #3 – Crystal Bradford (Team Smith, +30)