Second half surge not enough to lift women’s basketball over Widener
FREDERICK, Md – Breakout game for Maya Gordon (Towson, Md./Loch Raven High School) not enough as Hood College women’s basketball falls 77-70 to Widener, in Saturday morning’s conference showdown.
Inside the Box Score
Gordon scored 18 points and shot 50 percent from the field.
Tiffany Manning (Randallstown, Md./Western Tech) scored 15 points and snagged nine rebounds. She also finished with a career-high five steals.
How it Happened
Early turnovers delayed the Blazers’ offense from getting started. Widener was able to take advantage and jump out to an early lead, after getting to the line and making free throws. Shylah Taylor (Cumberland, Md./Allegany High School) sunk a pair of three pointers to respond and give Hood’s offense life. Serenity Ritchie (Martinsburg, W.V./Martinsburg High School) followed with a tough finish to give Aliyah Taylor (Randallstown, Md./Pikesville High School) the assist. The Pride were good from midrange, with many players making shots. Upon returning to the game, Gordon blew by her defender, drove baseline, and made an inside hand layup to cut the deficit and bring the score to 19-15. At the end of the quarter, Mia Robbins made the most of a broken play and finished a layup to put Widener up 21-14.
Neither team was able to score early in the second quarter. Chanelle Lee (Brunswick, Md./Saint John’s Catholic Prep) broke the stalemate, after manning found her for a routine layup. After a Manning steal, Mari Faust (Burke, VA/Lake Braddock) got in the lane, played strong, and finished through the contact. She cut the Pride’s lead to just three points and energized the crowd. Taylor and Lee split their free throws on their trips, then Widener went on a run. Hood’s turnovers led to points for Widener on the offensive end. The Pride went into halftime with a 36-24 lead.
Free throws on consecutive possessions, followed by a layup, gave Widener a 46-28 , as the second half began. Manning answered with a floater through contact as the shot clock expired. Hood brought their defensive effort to another level and orchestrated a run of their own to cut Widener’s lead down to just seven points, with three minutes left in the quarter. Gordon played an instrumental role in the Blazers’ run by confidently knocking down a pair of three pointers and applying defensive pressure. As the fourth quarter approached, Hood trailed 51-46.
Taylor converted a three-point play to give Hood momentum and threaten Widener’s lead. Gordon’s offensive aggression left the Pride no choice but to foul. She made both of her free throws. Widener responded, then Ritchie sunk an open free-throw line jump shot. Both teams exchanged three pointers, including another one for Gordon and her career-night. What felt like a free throw contest ensued and Hood was never able to take the lead. After the hard-fought conference battle, Hood lost 77-70.
For the Opponent
Lindsay Kutz scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Robbins also grabbed eight rebounds and added 17 points.
Analysis
Widener shot 88.9 percent from the free-throw line, compared to Hood’s 71.4 percent.
The Pride scored 19 second chance points; The Blazers scored 13.
Up Next
The Blazers look to bounce back on Wednesday, February 12 at 7.p.m. against Stevenson, in their “All Hood, All Blue” game.
