FREDERICK, Md. - The Hood College women's basketball team fell to the visiting Golden Wolves of Alvernia 62-57 in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth play.  
 
Inside the Box Score  

• Nikki Etchison matched her career-high with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting and added six rebounds. Jenelle Fields finished with a career-high 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. 

• Brenna Ellenberger grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks. 

How it Happened  

• Alvernia came out strong in the first minute of the fourth quarter with a layup by Cathryn Kramer and a free throw by Jordan Karmonick put the score at 44-40 with 9:12 remaining. The Blazers answered back with a pair of layups and a free throw to cut the margin to one with 7:52 left in the game (45-44). Alvernia had stretched its lead to four before Etchison twice pulled Hood within a point. The sophomore hit a 3-pointer to make it 49-48 and later a layup to make it 51-50 with 5:37 left. The Golden Wolves twice built the lead to five points, but a Bre Smith 3-point field goal made it 57-55 with 3:02 to go and an Ellenberger jumper cut the deficit to three points with 1:31 remaining,60-57. Hood's best effort came from Ellenberger with 33 seconds remaining but was sent away by Alvernia's Cathryn Kramer. Karmonick free throws put the game away. 

• Neither team could pull away in the first six minutes of the third period, but a 3-pointer by Fields gave Hood a one-point lead with 3:07 left in the quarter (36-35). Both teams traded baskets for the next two minutes until a layup by Fields gave Hood a two-point edge with 1:11 remaining (40-38). Alvernia answered with a free- throw by Tamia Wessels and a layup by Taliyah Malone to make the score 41-40 heading into the fourth quarter. 

• Alvernia started the game with an 18-5 run before Hood pulled within 18-10 at the end of the first quarter during a 12-5 spurt that spanned into the second quarter. Etchison was the sixth Blazer to score in the run, pulling Hood within 20-14 with 9:29 left in the second. A layup by the Golden Wolves' Tyra Robinson gave Alvernia its largest lead of the period with 5:18 remaining (26-15). A free-throw by Newson sparked a 9-2 stretch to cut the deficit to four points to end the first half 28-24. 

Analysis  

• Alvernia edged Hood 40-35 in rebounds. 

• The Blazers held a 16-14 advantage in points off turnovers. 

• Both teams were even in points in the paint, 28-28. 

For the opponent  

• Kayla Williams led the Golden Wolves with 13 points and four rebounds. 

• Karmonick finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. She went 4-of-6 from the free throw line. 

• Kramer scored 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. 

Notes  

• Hood slipped to 5-9 on the season, while Alvernia improved to 8-6 overall. Both teams are 2-5 in the MAC Commonwealth. 

Up Next  
Hood hosts Messiah University on Wednesday, January 19 at 6 p.m.