Recap: Team Sims scores league-high 120 points behind Lexie Hull

Sparked by captain Odyssey Sims, Team Sims led wire-to-wire and led by as many as 30 points en route to securing its first win of the opening week. Sims tallied 22 points and dished out a career-high 14 assists while anchoring four players with 20 or more points. The former Baylor standout notched a career-high 616 leaderboard points, moving her into first place in the league standings with 933 points.

Guard Lexie Hull claimed MVP 1 honors after a sensational effort, scoring 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. Hull, who was also 6-for-9 from long range, moved up the leaderboard 33 spots after finishing with 697 points, including a game-high 307 stat points.

Team Sims guard Kelsey Mitchell continued her solid start to the campaign with 28 points after converting 11-of-17 field goal attempts, including a 6-for-8 showing from beyond the arc. Mitchell secured MVP 3 honors and compiled 529 leaderboard points in the victory.

Guard Lexie Brown, who missed Thursday’s season opener, excelled in her season debut to claim MVP 2 honors. The former Duke product knocked down 6-of-10 three-pointers to finish with 18 points. Guard Allisha Gray paced Team Cole in the loss with 3 points, while forward Crystal Bradford chipped in 17 points with 13 rebounds.

KEY MOMENT

Team Sims used a sizzling start to build an early 21-7 advantage in the game’s opening five minutes. The squad knocked down nine of its first 12 shots from the field, including three consecutive three-pointers, and closed the first quarter with a 36-22 lead. Team Cole trimmed the margin to 66-61 in the third quarter, but was unable to get any closer.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

After notching just 88 points in her Athletes Unlimited debut on Thursday night, Hull erupted with 697 leaderboard points to surge up the league ladder 33 spots to the No. 3 position. Sims, meanwhile, took over the league lead with her 616 points and finished play with 933 leaderboard points.

GAME NOTES

• Team Cole challenged an out of bounds call with 9:16 remaining in the third quarter … The challenge was successful as the call was overturned … Teams are now 1-for-4 (.250) on challenges.

• Team Sims set the Athletes Unlimited Basketball single-game scoring mark with its 120 points, eclipsing the 116 points by Team Hawkins in its triple-overtime win over Team Cloud on Feb. 26, 2022 … Guard Veronica Burton scored the record-breaking point on a free throw with 1:19 remaining in the fourth quarter.

• Team Sims also became the first team to reach the 100-pont mark this season, hitting the mark on a Sims free throw with 6:10 left in the final period.

• Team Sims is the first team in Athletes Unlimited Basketball history to boast four players with 20 or more points in the same game … It is the fourth time a team has produced three or more 20-point performers in the same contest, including the second time this season.

• The 38 points scored by Team Sims in the third quarter are the most by a team in a single period in Athletes Unlimited Basketball history … The previous mark was 36 points, which was set by Team Mitchell in the first quarter against Team Sims on Jan. 28, 2022, and matched by Team Hawkins against Team Cloud in the first quarter on Feb. 18, 2022.

• Team Sims also becomes the second team in Athletes Unlimited Basketball history to notch two quarters with 30 or more points in the same game … Team Cloud accomplished the feat on Feb. 2, 2022, against Team Russell, scoring 31 points in the second period before a 30-point outburst in the third stanza.

• Team Sims equaled the Athletes Unlimited Basketball single-game record by dishing out 30 assists on its 47 made field goals … Team Cloud also had 30 assists in its triple-overtime loss against Team Hawkins in last year’s regular season finale at Athletes Unlimited Arena at Sport Center Las Vegas.

• Team Cole and Team Sims combined to make 28 three-pointers in Friday’s opener, upping the league season total to 54 triples over three games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every three-pointer made during the 2023 Athletes Unlimited season.

• Team Cole’s 15 made three-pointers are an Athletes Unlimited single-game record, besting the previous mark of 14 established by Team Hawkins on Feb. 26, 2022, against Team Cloud.

• Sims, who set her career high with the 14-assist performance, posted her fourth career Athletes Unlimited double-double after adding 22 points … It also marked her third career game with 10 or more assists.

• Sims also became the third player in Athletes Unlimited Basketball history with 100 or more career assists, joining guard Natasha Cloud (138) and Sydney Colson (116) … Sims now owns 106 career assists in 17 games.

• Guard Kelsey Mitchell extended her streak of consecutive double-digit scoring efforts to 13 games after registering 28 points … The former Ohio State product also notched her sixth career game with 20 or more points.

• Forward NaLyssa Smith posted her second straight double-double after finishing with 20 points and 16 rebounds … Smith made 9-of-16 shots from the field and added four assists.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Lexie Hull (Team Sims, +90)
• #2 – Lexie Brown (Team Cole, +60)
• #3 – Kelsey Mitchell (Team Sims, +30)