Naz Hillmon had seven points, eight rebounds and three assists in Game 1 of Athletes Unlimited 2023, as her team, Team Courtney Williams, defeated Team Odyssey Sims 96-93 in overtime.
Hillmon’s stats from that Thursday night game don’t blow you away, but with the win and a double-double in another win Friday night, she has ascended to first place in the AU individual standings.
Hillmon’s 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds in Team Williams’ 75-67 Friday win over Team Natasha Cloud earned her MVP honors and therefore 549 total points to lead the contest.
Hillmon benefited from Team Williams winning each of the first two quarters, but missed out on some extra points when the team lost the third quarter. It lost the fourth quarter as well — barely. Hillmon was actually the one to foul Cloud with one second left, allowing Cloud to sink the quarter-winning free throws.
A Cloud pick-6 cut her team’s deficit to 70-63 with 3:34 to go, so Team Cloud was in it until almost the very end. Layshia Clarendon answered with a right corner three to make it 73-63 before Cloud made a deep two to cut it to 73-65 at 2:29 remaining. Nobody scored again until a Williams mid-range make with six ticks left.
Team Cloud cut it to one twice in the third, but…
