FREDERICK, Md. - Hood College women's basketball outlasts conference opponent Stevenson University in close contest 55-53.

Inside the Box Score
Chanelle Lee (Brunswick, Md./Saint John's Catholic Prep) was granted 26 points, and eight rebounds.

Tiffany Manning (Randallstown, Md./Western Tech) picked up 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Sami Betley (Bel Air, Md./Mercy) recorded four points and a team high of nine rebounds.

Na'Vaye Quarles (Glen Burnie, Md./North County) earned seven points and dished out four assists on the day.

How it Happened
Hood started the game off hot with Manning and Lee scoring the first two buckets for the Blazers. Hood would then go on a 14 point scoring run going into the last two minutes of the quarter. This would be the highest scoring run of the game. 

The second quarter began with a made jumper by Manning. Stevenson would the go on a scoring run of its own with seven minutes left in the half. Lee then put an end to the scoring drought with a layup in the paint. To close out the quarter Lee scored again this time with a three pointer. Hood ended the first half going 44 percent from the field with a score of 34-25.

To begin the second half of play Stevenson's Erin Dixon made a jumper to start the third quarter. Nikki Etchison (Ijamsville, MD/Oakdale) would respond with a three point jumper of her own just ten seconds later. The Mustangs then cut Hood's lead to just two at five minutes after Amoni Taylor made a layup in the paint. Immediately following the bucket Demiah Austin (Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie) made a crucial three pointer to give Hood a five point cushion. Both teams would find themselves trading baskets with one another. The quarter ended with a score of 49-40 in favor of Hood.

Stevenson's Tessa Boswell made two three pointers in a row to shave down Hood's lead yet Amari Faust (Burke, VA/Lake Braddock) and Betley responded with two layups in the paint to maintain the lead for the Blazers. Closing out the game both teams showed great defensive stands with both teams going scoreless in the final five minutes of the game. Hood was found victorious with a final score of 55-55. 

For the Opponent
Tessa Boswell was rewarded 18 points and six rebounds.

Erin Dixon had 11 points, 11 rebounds and one assist on the day. 

Analysis 
Hood shot 33.9 percent from the field compared to Stevenson's 32.2 percent. 
 
The Blazers out scored the Nittany Lions in points in the paint 22-16. 
 
Notes 
Hood advances to 2-3 in conference and 3-12 overall, while Stevenson falls to 0-5 in conference and 4-12 overall.

Hood led in points for the entire game. 

When asked about the outcome of the game, Head Coach DéRonté Polite said, "Normally in close games we've been hunting trying to get the lead. This time we had the lead and the opponent had to fight for it."

Up Next 
The Blazers will return to play on Saturday, January 20 when they head to York, Pa. to take on conference opponent York College of Pennsylvania at 1 p.m. Read Full Article