By Maegan Green<\/p>\n
The Lady Blazers came out strong in their season opening home game against Randolph College. The final score was 52 \u2013 49 in the non-conference match up.<\/p>\n
The Blazers performed excep\u00adtionally well defensively, holding the Wildcats to just 18 points in the first half of the game. Hood\u2019s de\u00adfense caused the Wildcats to turn the ball 22 times total.<\/p>\n
This game consisted of a lot of firsts for the Blazers. It is the first season-opening victory for Hood since Jack Mehl took over as head coach last season. It also marks the first game played in the college ca\u00adreer of the 10 freshmen on the roster. \u201cWe have 17 players this season,\u201d said Mehl. \u201cWe have 10 freshman, one sophomore transfer student, and three seniors,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
One of Mehl\u2019s goals this season is to help first-year players adjust. \u201cThey play very well together over\u00adall,\u201d said Mehl. \u201cIt is going to be a challenge trying to figure out the best rotation for all of the players in each game. From my standpoint, with having a large roster, it is going to take a while to figure out how to take advantage of all of the players,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The team has evolved tremen\u00addously in the last two seasons. Prior to Mehl becoming the head coach, there were once just six players on the roster. He plays a big role in re\u00adcruiting. \u201cI go to high school games and talk to players,\u201d said Mehl. He is the reason why many first-year students chose to come to Hood.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoach Mehl is the reason I came to Hood,\u201d said first-year Ari\u00adanna Delerme. \u201cHe came to my high school to watch me play. He was really nice,\u201d she added. Coaches from many other schools had spoken to Delerme. \u201cOther coaches were loud and weren\u2019t that fun to talk to. Coach Mehl was cool. And really funny too,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The Blazers are undergoing a lot of changes this season. \u201cThis season is a foundation for building,\u201d said Mehl. In addition to having sever\u00adal new players, they are working on establishing a different playing style.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are trying to play faster and more up tempo this year,\u201d said Mehl. \u201cWe are also going to try to run a less structured offense. Our offense is going to run more of a read and react,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The Blazers have a tough sched\u00adule ahead of them. They are in a new conference this season. The MAC is more competitive and has more schools competing in comparison to the CAC, Hood\u2019s previous confer\u00adence. \u201cWe won six games last year and this season, we are not facing any of those opponents,\u201d said Mehl.<\/p>\n
In the season-opener, Dyanna Prater (\u201913) led the Blazers in scor\u00ading, with 10 points. She also had two steals and five assists. Rachel Wiley (\u201916) came up with three blocks.<\/p>\n
Briana Lee (\u201915) scored seven points. Rachel Kessler (\u201916) made all three of her free throw attempts and Emily Maerz (\u201913) was two for two at the free throw line. Shakara Head (\u201916) lead the Blazers in re\u00adbounds, with a total of 12.<\/p>\n
Hood is set to play in North Carolina against Wesleyan at the Methodist Tournament on\u00a0November\u00a024th.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"