READING, Pa. - The Hood College women's basketball team dropped its Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth opener at Albright, 79-48.

Taylor McGaughey (New Market, Md. / Oakdale) and Alexis Andrukat (Smithsburg, Md. / Smithsburg) combined for 25 points in the contest for the Blazers. McGaughey led the team with 13 points, hitting 3-of-9 from 3-point range. Andrukat went 5-of-9 from the floor and scored 12 points. Verkia Smith (Waldorf, Md. / North Point) and Alexis Briscoe (Columbia, Md. / Long Reach) had six rebounds apiece.

The Lions, the preseason MAC Commonwealth favorite and among those receiving votes in the national polls, were led by the trio of Nina Mazzarelli, Kelecia Harris and Emily O'Donnell. Mazzarelli hit all five of her 3-point attempts on her way to 23 points. Harris went 7-of-8 shooting and finished with 16 points. O'Donnell's 7-of-10 shooting night resulted in 14 points. Alysha Lofton grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists. 

Hood kept pace early and led 13-12 after a pair of free throws by Briscoe with 1:37 left in the first quarter. O'Donnell scored on the Lions next possession to start a 20-2 run that stretched into the second quarter, resulting in a 32-15 lead for Albright. The Blazers responded with a 7-0 run that featured three points apiece from McGaughey and Lauron Bagby (Midlothian, Va. / Midlothian), but Hood settled for a 38-24 deficit at halftime.

The Blazers could not get closer than 12 in the second half. 

Hood won the turnover battle, forcing Albright into 20, while committing 17. 

Widener visits BB&T Arena on December 5 at 1 p.m.