DANVILLE, Pa.--The Hood College women's basketball team (0-2) came up on the short end of a 61-42 decision to the Averett University Cougars (3-0) Wednesday evening in nonconference action.

Hood led briefly in the early going (4-2) until the Cougars used a 7-0 run, capped by a Taylor Poirier bucket in transition, to give the hosts a 9-4 advantage six minutes in. Hood closed to within two, 14-12, on a putback by Jen Willison off a miss by Jessica Parrish midway through the stanza. But the Cougars outscored Hood 16-2 over the next 6:38 to assume a 30-14 lead with 3:37 remaining in the half. Hood trailed 32-18 at the break. 

The halftime deficit was too much to overcome for the Blazers, who got no closer than 12 in the second half.

Willison, who fouled out with 9:41 left in the second half, finished with a team-high 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go along with eight rebounds. Allyson Lethbridge also reached double figures with 10 points and six boards while Parrish chipped in eight points, four rebounds and a career-high-tying five assists. Brianna Raithel connected on a pair of three-pointers for six points while Jessica Head and Nicole Van Deusen each registered one field goal apiece.

Averett's Ashley Washington led all scorers with 24 points. Hood outrebounded the Cougars, 35-32, and nearly matched the Cougars offensive output in the final 20 minutes (29-24).

Hood continues its three-game road stint Saturday at the Drew University Tournament. Hood battles the host Rangers at 8 p.m. in the opening round.