HARRISONBURG, Va.--The Hood College women's basketball team opened the season at the Eastern Mennonite University Tournament Friday but fell to the host team, 81-42. Sophomore Jen Willison paced the Blazers with 12 points in 33 minutes of action.

Eastern Mennonite (1-0) began the game on a 6-0 run before sophomore Whitney Schultheis started the scoring for the Blazers with a three-pointer to bring the Blazers to within three early in the first half. But the Lady Royals outscored the Blazers 27-6 over the next eight minutes to assume a 33-9 lead at the 9:27 mark. Hood trailed 51-20 at intermission.

Despite a valiant effort by the young Blazer squad, the halftime deficit was too much to overcome.

Willison hit 6-12 from the field and grabbed six rebounds, while Christi Valdez netted six points and three boards off the bench. In her Blazer debut, Cecelia Davis connected on a pair of field goals and hauled in a team-best eight rebounds. Schultheis finished with five points, four assists and a pair of steals and Len Bushrod, also making her collegiate debut, chipped in five points, including a three, to go along with two rebounds. Sara Wastler and Jessica Parrish netted four points apiece and Brianna Raithel contributed two points and six boards.

The Blazers will take on Richard Stockton in the consolation final at 2 p.m. Saturday.