FREDERICK, Md.--The visiting Shenandoah University Hornets (2-3) spoiled the Hood College women's basketball team's home opener in BB&T Arena Sunday afternoon, defeating the Blazers 75-45 in a nonconference game.

Prior to the start of the game, Hood College president Dr. Ronald J. Volpe was on hand to participate in a ceremonial "jump ball" with Hood's Rachel Wiley and Shenandoah's Nicole Gilbertson (pictured, right). President Volpe used a commemorative basketball signed by the entire Blazer women's basketball team which was imprinted with the dedication date of the brand new BB&T Arena (Nov. 4, 2011).

Hood struggled offensively from the outset and saw the Hornets race out to an 18-5 lead midway through the opening stanza. Hood connected on just two field goals in the first 12:18 before Emily Maerz swished a jumper at the 7:42 mark to make it 18-8 SU. Heather Boyce buried a three-pointer just before the first-half buzzer to cut the deficit to 35-22 heading into the locker room.

The Hornet advantage hovered above the double digit mark but the Blazers were able to trim the margin to an even 10 after a jumper by Briana Lee which made it 41-31 Shenandoah with 13:42 to play. However from there, Hood endured another scoring drought from the field, misfiring on its next seven shots which allowed SU to extend its lead to 17. A bucket by Jessica Talley at the 8:31 mark snapped the slump, but the Hornets responded with one of their eight triples on their next trip, this one by Crystal Petrus, to assume a 20-point bulge and the Blazers were unable to recover down the stretch.

Boyce drilled three three-pointers for nine points to pace the Blazers while Dyanna Prater and Lee finished with seven points apiece. Talley chipped in six points and hauled in 10 boards while Rachel Wiley also had a nice effort on the glass with 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, and blocked three shots. Prater handed out five assists in the losing cause.

Holly Chittenden and Nicole Gilbertson both finished with "double doubles" for Shenandoah; Chittenden contributed 15 points and 16 rebounds while Gilbertson had 11 points and 12 boards.

The Blazers will open Capital Athletic Conference play Wednesday hosting the Salisbury University Sea Gulls at 6 p.m. at BB&T Arena.