Recap: Team Williams tops leaderboard after undefeated weekend

The win allowed Team Williams to finish the opening week with a perfect 3-0 record, while Team Cole suffered its third consecutive loss and closed the week at 0-3.

Forward Isabelle Harrison, who netted 12 of her 27 points in the final frame, earned MVP 1 honors after securing 685 leaderboard points, including 295 stat points. She was 12-for-17 from the field and sank all three of her free throws in addition to three rebounds and three steals.

Guard Evina Westbrook secured her first career game MVP award and 439 leaderboard points after converting 7-of-12 shots from the field, including a 2-for-4 showing from beyond the arc, en route to a 16-point performance and the MVP 2 distinction.

Forward Naz Hillmon claimed MVP 3 recognition after posting six points and five rebounds over 23 minutes.

Team Cole, which had five players score in double figures, was paced by guard/forward Ty Young. The former James Madison standout came off the bench to set a career high with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field along with a 7-for-8 effort at the free throw line.

KEY MOMENT

Holding a slim one-point lead (64-63) with 8:23 remaining in the fourth quarter, Team Williams used an explosive 17-2 run to put the game away. Harrison sparked the run by scoring 10 points, including eight consecutive markers over a 77-second span.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Harrison’s career-high 685 leaderboard points vaulted her into the top spot on the leaderboard with a rise of four spots, while Williams rose seven positions into fifth place. Guard Air Hearn, who tallied 12 points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench, also had an impressive move up the leaderboard, going up eight spots to seventh place.

GAME NOTES

• Sunday’s game between Team Cole and Team Williams was the first of five games to air on CBS Sports Network this season.

• Team Cole and Team Williams combined to sink 10 three-pointers in Sunday’s opener, upping the league season total to 77 triples through five games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every three-pointer made this season as part of its “Trees for Threes” initiative.

• Team Cole challenged an out-of-bounds call with 7:44 remaining in the fourth quarter … The challenge was successful and the call was reversed.

• Team Williams challenged a blocking foul called with 1:48 left in the closing stanza … The challenge was successful and overturned to an offensive foul … Teams are now 3-for-5 (.600) in captain’s challenges.

• Team Williams becomes the fifth team in Athletes Unlimited Basketball history to earn a three-game sweep.

• Harrison posted her second 20-point game of the season after finishing with 27 points … It is the eighth time she has reached the 20-point plateau in 18 career Athletes Unlimited games.

• Harrison also becomes the third player in Athletes Unlimited Basketball history to garner 10 or more career game MVP awards after taking home MVP 1 honors on Sunday.

• Forward Karisma Penn made her first start of the season for Team Cole on Sunday … She scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in 16 minutes.

• Forward Crystal Bradford authored her third consecutive double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds … Bradford also grabbed five of Team Cole’s 15 offensive rebounds to lead the squad.

• Young also established a personal career high with seven rebounds.

• Guard Allisha Gray registered her first Athletes Unlimited double-double after finishing with 10 points and a season-high 10 rebounds, including eight on the defensive end.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Isabelle Harrison (Team Williams, +90)
• #2 – Evina Westbrook (Team Williams, +60)
• #3 – Naz Hillmon (Team Williams, +30)