Recap: Team Hillmon's strong second half secures 103-96 win

The win allowed Team Hillmon to close the week with a 2-1 record, while Team Mitchell failed to earn a win in its three contests.

Led by forwards Naz Hillmon and Kristi Bellock, Team Hillmon used double-digit scoring from six different players to secure the comeback victory. Bellock secured MVP 1 honors after tallying 14 points off the bench on 6-of-7 shooting from the field, including a 2-for-3 showing from long range.

Hillmon, meanwhile, received the MVP 2 award after closing play with 19 points and nine rebounds. The former Michigan standout, who collected 489 leaderboard points, shot 6-of-14 from the floor and was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line.

Guard Kelsey Mitchell posted MVP 3 notice in a losing effort for Team Mitchell, sinking 9-of-13 field goal attempts, including 4-of-5 three-point attempts, en route to a 25-point effort with six assists.

KEY MOMENT

Trailing by a 70-62 margin with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter, Team Hillmon went on a 21-5 run over the next six minutes to take an 83-75 lead on a layup by guard Lexie Brown. Hillmon and Bellock combined to net 12 of the points during the outburst.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Hillmon moved back into contention for a captain’s spot in Week Four and owns 3,622 leaderboard points entering the final game of the week between Team Smith and Team Sims. Mitchell, meanwhile, elevated her position by four spots and stands in fifth place with 3,409 points.

GAME NOTES

• Team Mitchell and Team Hillmon combined to make 22 three-pointers in Saturday’s opener, elevating the league’s season total to 259 triples through 17 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every three-pointer made during the season as part of its ‘Trees for Threes’ initiative.

• After shooting just 10-for-34 in the first quarter of its first two games this week, Team Mitchell was 10-of-17 from the field in the opening frame against Team Hillmon on Saturday night.

• Team Mitchell equaled a league season high with its 55-point outburst on Saturday … Team Smith scored 55 points against Team Mitchell on Wednesday night in the opening 20 minutes … Team Hillmon also registered a 55-point first half last Saturday against Team Smith in a 95-92 setback.

• Mitchell has now reached double figures in scoring 19 times in her 20 career Athletes Unlimited games after her 25-point outing, including 15 during the first half … In addition, she posted six or more assists in a game for the fourth time in her Athletes Unlimited career and ended the night with six dimes.

• Harrison owns 13 straight games with 10 or more points following a 27-point effort on Saturday, including 15 points in the first half … Harrison converted 13-of-18 field goal attempts and also added six rebounds.

• Burton authored her second double-digit scoring performance in as many games with 11 points on Saturday, including 10 markers in the first 20 minutes … She also secured a new season high with eight rebounds, including six caroms in the first half.

• Gray earned her eighth double-digit scoring output in nine games this season with 22 points, which also marked her fourth 20-point affair of the campaign … She was 5-of-7 from the field in the first half to pace Team Hillmon with 12 points.

• Guard Courtney Williams reached double figures in scoring with 12 points in the first half, marking her sixth double-digit output of the season … Williams finished with 17 points in the game on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-7 effort from long distance.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Kristi Bellock (Team Hillmon, +90)
• #2 – Naz Hillmon (Team Hillmon, +60)
• #3 – Kelsey Mitchell (Team Mitchell, +30)