WINCHESTER, Va. - A steal by Shenandoah in the closing seconds allowed the Hornets to hold off Hood College, 75-73, in non-conference action.

The Blazers trailed by as many as 15 in the second half, including 61-46 after a layup by Erin French with 12:23 left in the game. Hood scored the game's next 10 points and pulled within five on a 3-point field goal by Allie Appleby (Bel Air, Md. / C. Milton Wright) two-and-a-half minutes later, 61-56.

The Hornets stretched the lead back to double figures when a layup by Kanesha Foster made it 71-61 with 3:42 on the game clock, but once again Hood fought its way back into the game.

Layups by Verkia Smith (Waldorf, Md. / North Point) and Rachel Wiley (Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) brought the Blazers to within 71-65. Holly Chittenden answered with a bucket, but a free throw by Smith and a field goal by Wiley chipped the deficit to 73-68 with under two minutes to play. Taylor McGaughey (New Market, Md. / Oakdale) made a free throw before an Appleby layup made it 73-71 with just 52 seconds remaining. 

The two teams traded turnovers before Chittenden was fouled and hit a pair of free throws with 19 seconds to play. On Hood's next possession, Briana Lee (Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) grabbed an offensive rebound, was fouled, and sank both foul shots to make it 75-73 with 12 seconds on the clock. 

Breya Wallace missed two free throws with seven seconds left and Wiley pulled in the defensive board to give the Blazers a final chance. But an entry pass to the post was stolen by Foster to preserve the win for Shenandoah.

Wiley and Appleby scored 14 points apiece to lead Hood. Wiley went 5-of-8 from the field and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Appleby was 5-of-7 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. 

The Blazer bench continued to lend large contributions, outscoring the Hornet reserves 32-11. Alexis Andrukat (Smithsburg, Md. / Smithsburg) was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field to tie her career-high with nine points. Smith added eight points and three assists off the bench.

Chittenden went 7-of-9 from the field and 7-of-11 from the free throw line to lead Shenandoah with 21 points. She also had nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in the game. French had a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. Wallace added 13 points and Arcata pitched in with a dozen.

Hood held a 39-33 rebounding edge in the game. 

Shenandoah led 40-35 at the half after shooting 61 percent in the opening 20 minutes.

The Blazers, 1-2 on the season, open Commonwealth Conference play on Saturday, November 22 against Arcadia at BB&T Arena. Tip off is 1 p.m.