FREDERICK, Md. – A strong second half led the Albright women's basketball team towards a road victory with a 59-53 MAC Commonwealth win over Hood on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, the Lions improve to 5-5 in conference and 10-6 overall. Meanwhile the Blazers fall to 2-9 in conference and 5-13 overall.
 
Senior Gabby Boggs earned her 13^th double-double of the season with a game-high 24 points behind 9-for-13, 17 rebounds, five steals, and four blocks. Senior Maggie O'Hare tallied her third-straight game in double figures with 16 points behind 7-for-13 shooting from the floor and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc and added six rebounds. Junior Lindsey Williamson added seven points off the bench on 3-for-4 shooting from the field and 1-fo-2 from beyond the arc.
 
Boggs opened up the game with the first basket, but it was a back-and forth as Hood held a 10-6 lead at the 4:58-mark. Back-to-back baskets for the Lions from Boggs and O'Hare gave Albright back the 11-10 lead with just under four minutes to go in the first. The two teams then traded leads, but Hood had the closing basket of the quarter to hold onto a 14-13 lead. The Lions opened the second stanza to take a one-point lead. Hood then notched a big twelve unanswered points to pull ahead 30-19 at the 3:43-mark. O'Hare finally snapped the run with a basket, followed by a pair of free throws from senior Brady Wassel to cut the Lions deficit to seven. The Blazers closed out the half with a 7-4 run to hold a 37-27 lead entering the break.
 
The Blazers had the opening bucket of the second half, which would turn out to be their only basket of the third quarter as the Lions held them to just 7.7% shooting from the field. O'Hare then sparked a 14-2 run for Albright which was capped off with a layup from Boggs to tie the game up at 41 with less than two minutes remaining in the third. The Blazers earned a trip to the charity stripe where they went 1-for-2, but O'Hare knocked down a last second jumper to give Albright their first lead since 7:39 in the second quarter at 43-42. Hood knocked down a three-pointer to take the lead back and open the final stanza, but Williamson sparked seven-straight points for the Lions to give them a 50-45 lead at the 4:39-mark. The Blazers responded with an 8-2 run to take a one-point lead with 2:07 left to play. Williamson got Albright back the lead with a bucket and bringing the score to 54-53. Senior Amina Rauf made a big defensive play and converted a steal into a basket at the 1:23-mark. The Blazers were forced to foul the Lions, to which Boggs went 3-for-4 from the line to solidify the 59-53 conference win.
 
Albright shot 22-for-53 (41.5%) from the field, 3-for-15 (20.0%) from beyond the arc, and 12-for-18 (66.7%) from the charity stripe. The Lions strongest quarter was in the third when they shot 7-for-13 (53.9%) from the field and held Hood to just 1-for-13 (7.7%) shooting to get back in the game. The Lions also won the battle on the glass 37-30. Meanwhile, Hood shot 21-for-61 (34.4%) from the floor, 3-for-8 (37.5%) from three-point range, and 8-for-13 (61.5%) from the free-throw line. The Blazers converted 29 points off caused turnovers and earned 30 points in the paint.
 
Albright will return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Widener at 6 p.m. to continue MAC Commonwealth play.