WESTMINSTER, Md. - Hood College trailed by just two after the first period in its season opener at McDaniel, but the Green Terror broke the game open in the second period and pulled away to hand the Blazers a 71-43 loss in the McDaniel Tip Off Tournament.

Hood shot 18-of-22 from the free throw line in the game (82 percent).

Verkia Smith (Waldorf, Md. / North Point) led the Blazers with 10 points, fueled by a 6-for-6 mark from the line. She added two steals. Alexis Andrukat (Smithsburg, Md. / Smithsburg) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and blocked a pair of shots. Lauron Bagby (Midlothian, Va. / Midlothian) came off the bench for seven points in her first career game.

The Blazers got to the charity stripe 10 times in the first quarter and sank nine, helping Hood keep pace with McDaniel, who led just 15-13 entering the second period. In that second quarter, Lindsey Nichols scored 11 of her 18 points as the Green Terror outscored Hood 25-7 to lead 40-20 at the half.

Nichols overcame a 7-of-22 shooting performance to tie teammate Karli Zeps for game-high honors with 18 points. Zeps hit 8-of-13 field goals and finished her double-double with 14 rebounds. The forward added four steals. Brittney Davis had eight assists and five steals. Halle Burgess came off the bench for 11 points.

With the loss, Hood will face Mount Aloysius in the consolation game on Sunday, November 15 at 2 p.m. The Mounties fell 58-41 to Juniata in the other first round game.