Rhythm and Eclipse Secure Friday Night Victories in Nashville
The Week Three action at Nashville Municipal Auditorium delivered a high scoring Friday night double-header, headlined by a record breaking performance from Rhythm and a massive comeback by Eclipse.
Rhythm 103, Gold Rush 94
In the highest scoring game of the evening, Rhythm overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Gold Rush, fueled by a dominant 59-point second half. This offensive explosion set a new league record for the most points scored in a second half this season.
• Standout Performance: Rhythm guard Kaitlyn Chen earned MVP 1 honors, dropping a season high 32 points. This mark represents the highest individual scoring total by any player in the league so far this season.
• The Double-Double: Center Tina Charles secured MVP 3 honors, recording 26 points and 10 rebounds. This marked her second double-double of the campaign.
• Gold Rush Leaders: Despite the loss, Odyssey Sims continued her historic run, scoring 30 points to claim MVP 2. Sims has now scored in double figures in 60 of her 62 career games. Aneesah Morrow also added a season-high 25 points off the bench.
• Key Moment: Trailing at the half, Rhythm utilized a 25-11 run in the third quarter to seize control, eventually becoming just the fourth team to cross the 100-point threshold this season.
Eclipse 89, Glow 83
Eclipse orchestrated one of the most impressive turnarounds in AU Pro Basketball history, rallying from a 17-point second quarter deficit to stun Glow. The comeback stands as the second largest in the history of the league.
• Ariel Atkins Leads the Way: Guard Ariel Atkins took home MVP 1 honors after scoring a season high 22 points. Her efficiency was key, shooting 7 of 12 from the field and a perfect 5 of 5 from the free throw line.
• The MVP Sweep: Eclipse players claimed all three MVP spots. Guard Shey Peddy (MVP 2) tallied 15 points and six assists, while NaLyssa Smith (MVP 3) contributed 17 points, marking her seventh game this season with 15 or more points.
• Glow Highlights: Kiara Leslie recorded her second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Natasha Mack added 12 points and 14 rebounds, currently leading the league with six double-doubles.
• Turning Point: After trailing 46-35 in the third quarter, Eclipse went on a 19-4 run to take the lead, holding off a late Glow surge to even their Week Three record at 1-1.
Leaderboard Impact
Following Friday's results, Odyssey Sims maintains the top spot on the individual leaderboard with 3,930 total points. However, the gap is narrowing as Rebekah Gardner follows closely behind by 135 points. Natasha Mack’s consistent double-double performances have also propelled her into the top spot among the post players.
Looking Ahead: The Week Three finale continues , Saturday, February 21, with Eclipse taking on Rhythm followed by Glow facing Gold Rush.