Box Score OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- With neither team able to create much separation, Hood converted at the foul line down the stretch as Stevenson fell, 58-53, in the Middle Atlantic (MAC) Commonwealth opener inside Owings Mills Gymnasium.
Denia Campbell and Aysia Ferguson registered 16 points each for Stevenson (1-4, 0-1 MAC Commonwealth), which shot just 27.5% for the game. Meanwhile, Hood (3-2, 1-0 MAC Commonwealth) also received 16 points from Morgan Anderson in the victory.
- Stevenson raced forward off a rejection from Olivia Coleman, who found Denia Campbell for a transition bucket and a 2-0 lead. Hood answered with the next six points before Coleman made a foul shot and Kellie Johnson converted a putback, trimming the deficit to 6-5.
- The Blazers converted at the line for a 10-7 lead as Stevenson called timeout at 4:56 in the frame. Morgan DeBeary raced in for a bucket as Stevenson stayed within striking distance at 10-9 before a steal and score for Emori Jeselskis through contact.
- In a quarter full of fouls, Campbell worked the lead to 16-13 at the line with less than 40 seconds showing in the stanza.
- Laci Johnson stuck a transition layup off a slick bounce pass from Campbell for the first basket of the quarter. The Blazers zipped ahead for a response as the teams went back and forth with Stevenson leading 20-17.
- Michelle Mesquita crashed the block for a stickback bucket before the Blazers took back momentum with their transition offense. Bre Smith took the space available to her for a triple, extending the Hood lead at 26-22.
- Trisha Tellian stuck a three-ball along the right wing and Aysia Ferguson canned a long two as the Mustangs trailed 28-27 heading into the half.
- Ferguson drove down the lane, absorbing contact and finishing for a 30-28 advantage. Off a blocked shot, Ferguson raced ahead for a lay-in to create some semblance of breathing room for Stevenson at 32-28.
- The cold spell continued for Hood offensively until Smith drained a three from the left wing at the 6:50 mark, later taking a 33-32 lead at the charity stripe. Stevenson endured a cold stretch of its own, ended by a driving layup from Campbell to tie the score at 34.
- Mesquita rolled to the bucket for an open look as Hood maintained its slim lead. After reversing the ball, Ferguson banked in a three until the Blazers answered on the next trip up the floor.
- Campbell went up and under for a slick basket and the Mustangs forced a turnover on defense, giving them the final possession of the frame with 17 seconds left, trailing 43-41.
- Ferguson picked the pocket of the guard near midcourt and drove down uncontested for the first points of the frame, tying the score at 43. Ferguson continued her strong start to the frame with a 15-foot jumper for a 45-43 lead.
- The Mustangs struggled from in close as Hood maintained a narrow 47-46 lead. Off an extra pass, Campbell canned a three from the left wing to tie the score at 49. Once again, Hood had a quick response with a bucket early in the shot clock to move ahead 51-49.
- Each side continued trading buckets as Hood continued holding the advantage. Out of a timeout, Tiffany Manning converted a clutch shot underneath before Stevenson turned the ball over. The Mustangs got the ball back down by four with 42.3 seconds left.
- The Blazers made a foul shot for a 56-51 lead with 22 seconds remaining. Olivia Coleman finished a layin before the Mustangs were forced to foul and extend the game as Hood took the 58-53 decision.
- The contest featured 18 ties and 18 lead changes as the score remained close throughout.
- The Mustangs went just 3-of-19 from deep, while Hood struggled at the foul line, converting at a 60.9% clip.
- Despite the poor shooting, Stevenson forced 23 turnovers with 11 steals.
- Hood held a 26-12 margin in bench points on the night.
- Kellie Johnson snared 13 rebounds, while Coleman added 10 boards.
- Anderson had seven first-quarter points for the Blazers, helping the visitors to the early lead before the Mustangs responded back.
- There were just two combined three-point field goals in the opening half, while the Mustangs dropped in 25 points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Blazers also went just 5-of-12 from the line in the first half, allowing the Mustangs to keep the margin close.
- Stevenson: The Mustangs are back in action on Saturday, December 4, hosting Alvernia at 1:00 PM.
- Hood: The Blazers host Widener on Saturday, December 4 at 1:00 PM.
