FREDERICK, Md. – A strong first quarter from the Hood College women's basketball team could not be kept up with, as the Blazers fell to Stevenson University 58-41 in a Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth matchup.
Inside the Box Score
Serenity Ritchie (Martinsburg, W.V./Martinsburg) led the team with 11 points, shooting 4-6 from the field.
Jaylah Putman (Jacksonville, Fla./Long Reach) scored 10 points in the game.
How it Happened
The Blazers started off strong, with
Sami Betley (Bel Air, Md./Mercy) finding Ritchie in the paint for a clean jumper just 14 seconds in. After a quick response from the Mustangs, Ritchie again made herself known by hitting a three-pointer to give Hood the lead back. Although Stevenson again tied it 7-7 with just over three minutes to play, the Blazers' offense went to work once more, outscoring the Mustangs 7-2 the rest of the period to go into the first break with a 14-9 lead.
Putman put on a show to start the second quarter, making a mid-range shot 12 seconds in before draining a three-pointer 40 seconds later to extend Hood's lead to 19-11. Unfortunately, that would be the last point it would score for most of the quarter, as Stevenson outplayed it on both sides of the court, causing turnovers and making shots for a 19-1 run to suddenly put the Blazers down 30-20 at halftime.
Quarter three saw the Mustangs continue their offensive push, outscoring Hood 17-13 and maintaining their lead heading into the fourth quarter despite attempts at momentum swings like
Jah Savoy (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) sending a defender nearly into next week with her ball handling before helping
Kourtney Johnson (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) score.
Although the Blazers scored the first basket of the fourth, their efforts were continuously equaled by Stevenson, with the visitors making enough shots to maintain their hold and not allowing Hood to get any momentum, as the scoreboard hit zeroes with the Mustangs ahead and handing the Blazers another conference loss.
For the Opponent
Anaya Price and Kalea Wynter both scored 12 points.
Destiny Towns came down with seven rebounds.
Analysis
Stevenson shot 43% from the field, while Hood shot just 39%.
Both teams had 33 rebounds.
The Mustangs' bench outscored the Blazers' 21-8.
Notes
Hood falls to 3-10 (0-2), while Stevenson improves to 4-10 (1-2)
Up Next
The Blazers have a short turnaround before another MAC Commonwealth match at home against Widener University Saturday, January 17 at 1 p.m.
