Published: November 29, 2007 10:13 am         

Hagerstown beats Allegany, 61-58

HAGERSTOWN - Allegany College of Maryland was unable to come up with some key free throws in the closing minutes as the Trojans dropped their first game of the season to Hagerstown Community College.

The loss drops the Trojans to 4-1 overall, and it was also the first game in the Maryland JUCO conference for ACM.

Allegany attempted just 13 shots from the charity stripe, and converted four. The Hawks, on the other hand, made 10-of-14.

Melissa Ford scored a game-best 16 points, and had a team-high five blocked shots. Kacey Kahl and Jasmine Blanks each had eight rebounds and four steals. Blanks scored 14 points, while Kahl finished with 10. DeeDee Reese passed out eight assists and scored five points.

"It was a game between two pretty evenly matched teams," said Allegany head coach Jerry Rice.

"It came down to our inability to make free throws when it was important. We had trouble finishing out. The girls played well defensively, but the execution on offense was lacking."

Hagerstown posted three players in double digit scoring. Latoya Buckner and Alicia Myers each scored 12, while Cara Thompson added 11.

Hagerstown improves to 7-0.

The Trojans will host the College of Southern Maryland Saturday, 7 p.m., in the second of four straight Maryland JUCO games.