Gophers Can't Complete Comeback, Bow to Blazers

Three-Point Play in Final Seconds Caps Huff's 20-Point Effort

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher knocked what had been as much as an 18-point deficit midway through the second half down to four points, but couldn't quite complete the comeback against Hood tonight in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center. Instead, the Blazers, who hadn't tallied more than 48 points in a game so far this season, picked up their first win of 2011-12, a 63-58 triumph over the Gophers.

The Blazers (1-6) didn't take its first lead until Rachel Wiley's layup put them up 7-5 after seven-and-a-half minutes. After a layup by TaQuasia Lambert (Brooklyn, N.Y./Patapsco) at the other end created a 7-7 tie, Hood went on a run of eight consecutive points, opening up a 15-7 advantage on another layup by Wiley with 7:54 remaining before halftime.

Wiley already had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds — and the Blazers enjoyed a 23-16 lead — by the end of the first half. The Gophers (1-6) were 6-for-34 from the field (.176) over the first 20 minutes.

Emily Maerz put Hood ahead by 18 for the first time when she connected from 3-point range 7:23 into the second half.

It wasn't until less than four minutes remained that the Gophers were able to trim their deficit down to single digits. A 3-point basket by Sharnell Huff (Bowie, Md./Bowie) with 3:44 left to play made the score 54-47.

Huff tallied five points in the final 25 seconds, including a conventional three-point play with :15 showing on the clock, to bring Goucher to within 62-58. The free throw that completed the three-point play was the sophomore guard's 20th point of the game.

Dyanna Prater was the leading scorer for Hood as she furnished the Blazers with 19 points. Wiley ended up with 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds; Maerz also had a double-double as she had 14 points to go along with 11 boards.

Kiara Doughty (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico) grabbed 10 of Goucher's team total of 45 rebounds.