Hood Women’s Basketball Sets Sights on Renewal After Tough Year

By Piper Wright// 

Hood College women’s basketball team finished the 2025-26 season with a 3-22 record, going winless in conference play for the first time in program history. 

The Blazers basketball team opened up their season on Nov. 8 with a 90-36 win against Trinity Washington University.

But then a 16-game losing streak followed, leaving the Blazers at the bottom of the MAC Commonwealth Conference. 

Despite the losses, the Blazers kept working hard throughout the season.

“What stands out to me the most is my team’s perseverance to keep going through the season,” junior Sami Betley said. “And to keep working to get better while also not giving up when we would go through tough challenges.”

The Blazers entered the 2025-26 season with a much smaller and younger roster following the graduation of team leaders, Tiffany Manning and Chanelle Lee.

Junior guard Jaylah Putman led the team with 213 total points on the season and averaged 8.5 points per game. 

The team included multiple dual-sport athletes who made helpful contributions. 

Betley is also a part of Hood College women’s volleyball team, and sophomore guard Hannah Loughry joined the team after completing her season with the women’s soccer team. 

For the first time in program history, the Blazers went winless in conference play, going 0-14 in Commonwealth play. 

The Blazers averaged 44.2 points per game and averaged 23.4 turnovers per game in the 2025-26 season. 

“My team’s top priorities during this off-season are to improve on everything and anything we can,” Betley said. 

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