CHESTER, Pa. - Hood College's Rachel Kessler (Middletown, Md. / Middletown) had a double-double for the Blazers with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Blazers to their third straight win, a 71-58 victory at Widener.

For Kessler, it was the third time in the past six games she set a new career-high in points. She went 10-of-12 at the free throw line. The 12 rebounds matched a career-high.

Allie Appleby (Bel Air, Md. / C. Milton Wright) added 15 points off the bench. Verkia Smith (Waldorf, Md. / North Point) had 10 points on the day along with three assists, and Rachel Wiley (Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) notched 12 rebounds.

The Pride jumped ahead of Hood 24-10 with 10 minutes remaining in the half. After the teams traded scores, the Blazers turned up the defense and outscored Widener 23-2 over the final nine minutes of the half. During the run, Hood limited the Pride to 1-of-10 shooting and five turnovers.

A layup from Smith tied the score 29-29 with three minutes left and Hood scored six more points before the half ended for a 35-29 lead.

The defense remained strong in the second half, as Widener missed its first 12 shots of the second half. A pair of free throws by Kessler gave the Blazers a 15-point lead, 44-29, with 13:39 to go. 

Over a span of over 15 minutes between the two halves, Hood held Widener to 1-of-22 shooting with seven turnovers. 

A jumper from the Pride's Ally Ferrucci pulled the team within reach of Hood, 53-50, with four minutes on the clock. Alexis Briscoe (Columbia, Md. / Long Reach) responded with a jumper that started an 18-8 run to close the game.

Hood hit 26-of-33 from the free throw line (79 percent), while the Pride attempted just 16 foul shots. The Blazer reserves outscored their counterparts 26-7 in the game. 

Hood also outrebounded Widener 50-37 with Briscoe adding nine.

Ferrucci had 17 points and four assists for the Pride and Julia Venturelli added 16 points.

Hood looks for its fourth consecutive win in a conference match up against Stevenson on January 14.