The Albright College women's basketball team held off a late Hood rally, in a 63-61 victory on Wednesday in Frederick, Md.

The Lions led 61-51 with 2:05 left, but the Blazers cut it to 61-60 on a Rachel Wiley layup with 17 seconds remaining.

Jessica Venturelli sank two free throws for Albright, and Hood turned it over with seven seconds remaining. Disaster nearly struck for the Lions however as they threw the inbounds pass away to give the hosts a chance.

Venturelli fouled Allie Appleby, who tried to feign a shooting motion behind the arc but was only awarded two shots. After making the first, she intentionally missed the second. With top Lion rebounders Kelecia Harris and Kadijah Bishop both out with five fouls, Hood's Eboni Staples was able to get the board, but her put-back at the buzzer was well short.

Harris totaled 18 points and 18 rebounds, while fellow sophomore Emily O'Donnell also had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Bishop pulled down eight boards.

Harris had 15 rebounds by halftime as the Blazers shot just 28.1% (9-of-32) from the floor in the opening period. She had more offensive rebounds (six), then the entire Hood team combined in the first half (four).

Albright trailed briefly midway through the first half, but tied it at 15-all on O'Donnell's basket and took the lead on a free throw from Harris.

Leading 23-21 with over minutes left in the first half, the Lions closed on a 9-3 run. Kristi McFadden (14 points, 3-for-3 from behind the arc) sank threes on consecutive trips down the floor, and Harris' free throw in the final minute made it 32-24 at halftime.

The Lions improve to 9-5, 3-4, and will host Lebanon Valley on Saturday in the Bollman Center. The women will tip off at 4 p.m. this weekend, after the conclusion of the men's game.