FREDERICK, Md.--Senior Jen Willison registered a game-high 18 points to lead three Blazers in double figures as the Hood College women's basketball team (4-12, 1-8 CAC) earned its first Capital Athletic Conference win of the season by defeating the visiting Stevenson University Mustangs (5-11, 3-6 CAC), 57-53, Saturday evening at the Odom Fitness Center at Fort Detrick.

The Mustangs took control in the first half by snapping a 6-6 tie with a 14-3 run over a span of 4:49 to assume a double-figure lead, 20-9, midway through the period. The Blazers responded with 14 unanswered points, holding the Mustangs scoreless for more than four minutes. A triple by Brianna Raithel regained the lead for Hood at the 6:09 mark. The two teams traded buckets the rest of the half and Hood took a 28-25 lead into the break.

The lead seesawed back and forth once again in the second period and the two squads found themselves tied four times, the last at 44-44 with 9:49 to go in regulation. From there, the Mustangs endured another scoring drought of 5:46 which allowed the Blazers to go up by seven, capped by a Willison putback at the 5:15 mark. 

Hood would connect on just one more field goal the rest of the way, but would not relinquish its lead. After a Rayshell Parker jumper drew the Mustangs to within one with under a minute to play, Willison hit a clutch layup at the other end off an assist from Kameran Evans to put the Blazers back up by three with 46 seconds left. SU's Amanda Craig converted a layup on the Mustangs' next possession and Stevenson called timeout with 32 ticks showing on the clock.

Kristen Steiner fouled Dyanna Prater after 11 seconds burned off the clock, which sent the Blazers' starting point guard to the line for two. Prater nailed both foul shots and this time Hood called timeout. On the Mustangs ensuing possession, Willison got a piece of Jackie Kell's potential game-tying three-pointer and the ball deflected off a Mustang player and out of bounds, giving possession back to Hood with six seconds remaining. Prater was fouled once again on the inbounds pass and this time made 1-of-2 from the stripe to ice the Blazer victory.

Willison hit 6-of-9 from the field and 6-of-9 from the line for 18 points. Prater finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists while Evans chipped in 12 points off the bench. Raithel had a solid all-around performance with season-highs of seven rebounds, six assists and two steals to go along with five points.

Hood ended a three-game slide to the Mustangs and recorded its first win over Stevenson since Feb. 20, 2008. Hood also outrebounded SU, 40-38, and forced 19 Mustang miscues.

JaQuelia Conley and Craig led the Mustang effort with 13 points apiece while Steiner finished with a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 16 boards to go along with five blocks.

Hood looks to make it two in a row Wednesday hosting the Salisbury University Sea Gulls, currently in a three-way tie for sixth place in the CAC. Tip time is set for 6 p.m. at the Odom Fitness Center at Fort Detrick.