DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Hood College's Rachel Kessler (Middletown, Md. / Middletown) scored a career-high 15 points and Rachel Wiley (Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) tallied a double-double in a narrow 62-56 loss against Alma College in the first day of the Land of Magic Tournament.

Kessler had a team-high 15 points and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the line. The senior tied a career-high with five steals in the contest.

Wiley had 13 points on the day along with 11 rebounds. She was also a solid 7-of-9 from the foul line and had three steals and two blocked shots. It was her third double-double of the year.

Hood trailed early, but a layup from Alexis Andrukat (Smithsburg, Md. / Smithsburg) ignited a 10-point run, which built a 14-6 lead with 8:55 left in the half. 

The Scots tied the score at 20-20 with two minutes remaining, before the Blazers closed the half with an 8-2 run for a 28-22 advantage at the break.

Hood stayed ahead 33-31 with 15:39 left second half, after a free throw from Wiley and a lay up from Alexis Briscoe (Columbia, Md. / Long Reach). Alma's Tara Padgett notched a 3-pointer to put them back in the lead, but fouls by the Scots allowed Amanda Hackney (Emmitsburg, Md. / Catoctin) and Wiley to sink two free throws apiece, tying the score 37-37 with 13:33 to play.

Grace Wheeler started a 14-point run with 12 minutes left, putting Alma ahead for good. A layup and free throw from Wiley pulled the Blazers within three points of the Scots, but two final free throws from Morgan Henry clinched the win, 62-56.

Briscoe added seven points for the Blazers, and Kristin Histand (Charlottesville, Va. / Miller School of Albemarle) was 2-of-3 from 3-point range.

Henry led Alma with 22 points and seven rebounds. Reanna Zink added 16 points and was 4-of-5 from the foul line.

Hood scored over half of its points off of turnovers by the Scots. The Blazers turned 25 Alma miscues into 29 points.

Hood looks for a win against Wesleyan (Conn.) at tomorrow at 12 p.m.