Published: February 08, 2008 10:36 am         

No. 18 ACM hosts No. 7 Hagerstown

Tip-off at Bob Kirk Arena set for 6 p.m.

CUMBERLAND - Two nationally-ranked teams will square off today, 6 p.m., at Bob Kirk Arena when the Allegany College of Maryland Trojans take on the Hagerstown Community College Hawks in a Maryland JUCO Conference clash.

Hagerstown (22-1) is ranked No. 7 in the national NJCAA Division II poll, with its only loss coming Feb. 3 to Community College of Rhode Island, 74-42, to snap a 21-game winning streak to open the season. The Hawks came back on Wednesday to defeat Dundalk, 76-64.

Hagerstown handed Allegany its only loss of the season, 61-58, back on Nov. 28. Since then, however, the Trojans (19-1 overall, 11-1 Maryland JUCO), ranked No. 18 nationally, have won 15 in a row, including Tuesday's 82-42 win at Chesapeake.

Jasmine Blanks led Allegany with 20 points, while Melissa Ford scored 17, Kacey Kahl 14, and Jennifer Willis 12.

The Trojans took a 30-5 lead in the first 10 minutes in rushing to a 45-15 halftime lead, holding Chesapeake to just three first-half field goals.

"This was a really good road win," said Allegany coach Jerry Rice. "Defensive pressure and our ability to run our offense early on was really sharp. We really haven't been starting quickly on the road, so I'm very pleased with that. It's something we've been emphasizing."

Ford had nine rebounds for the Trojans, while Courtney Crislip had eight and Kahl five. DeeDee Reese handed out seven assists and Blanks had five. Kahl came up with six steals and Willis four. Crislip blocked four shots.