Senior Melissa Kolb (Walkersville, Md./Walkersville High School) led five Blazer players in double-figures with a game-high 18 points. Junior Danielle Allen (North Wales, Pa./Abingdon High School) had 14 points and a game-best 12 rebounds for Hood (15-7, 9-0 AWCC).
All five Notre Dame (10-9, 3-6 AWCC) starters scored in double-figures for the first time this season, led by freshman Ashley Burley (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson High School) and sophomore Monica Cherry (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin High School) with 12 each.
Burley tied a Notre Dame school record by going 8-of-8 from the free throw line (min. 8 att.). She also had a team-best four assists.
Hood trimmed the Gators’ lead to 36-35 on two free throws by senior Katie Brennan (Frederick, Md./Frederick High School) 2:48 into the second half. Notre Dame, however, jumped back out to a 40-35 lead after a jumper by Cherry and two free throws by senior Julia Bachman (St. James, N.Y./Smithtown High School) 41 seconds later.
Hood then went on a 19-2 run over the next 5:02 to take a 54-42 lead on a free throw by Kolb with 9:29 to play.
Notre Dame cut the lead to four on two occasions, the last coming with 4:50 to play on a Bachman rebound and put-back, trimming the Blazers’ lead to 62-58.
Early in the game, Hood jumped out to a six-point lead, 17-11, with 10:49 to go in the first half, but Notre Dame fought back to take a 19-17 lead on two Burley free throws with 8:49 remaining. Hood would take a 25-23 lead with 5:50 to play before the break on a free throw by sophomore Rita Willis (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams High School).
Notre Dame then closed the first half on a 8-2 run to take a 33-27 advantage going into the lockerroom.
HOOD 74, NOTRE DAME (MD.) 64 HOOD (15-7, 9-0 AWCC) Kolb, Melissa 6-14 6-9 18; Allen, Danielle 6-16 2-2 14; Brennan, Katie 6-13 2-2 14; Willis, Rita 4-10 4-5 12; Shook, Dana 4-7 0-0 10; Fischer, Mandy 2-5 0-1 6; Griner, Crystal 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-67 14-19 74. NOTRE DAME (MD.) (10-9, 3-6 AWCC) Burley, Ashley 2-12 8-8 12; Cherry, Monica 5-11 0-2 12; Miscavige, Brynn 1-3 8-10 11; Bachman, Julia 3-8 5-6 11; Hall, Casie 5-9 0-0 10; Vecchioni, Catherine 3-7 0-0 6; Lawson, Katie 1-3 0-0 2; Young, Jessica 0-3 0-0 0; Money, Tina 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 20-59 21-26 64. Hood 27 47 74 Notre Dame (Md.) 33 31 64 3-point goals-Hood 4-10 (Fischer, Mandy 2-5; Shook, Dana 2-5), Notre Dame (Md.) 3-12 (Cherry, Monica 2-4; Miscavige, Brynn 1-2; Hall, Casie 0-2; Lawson, Katie 0-2; Burley, Ashley 0-2). Fouled out--Hood-None, Notre Dame (Md.)-Burley, Ashley. Rebounds-Hood 48 (Allen, Danielle 12), Notre Dame (Md.) 33 (Vecchioni, Catherine 10). Assists-Hood 17 (Kolb, Melissa 5), Notre Dame (Md.) 12 (Burley, Ashley 4). Total fouls-Hood 17, Notre Dame (Md.) 15. A-310.