FREDERICK, Md. – Franklin & Marshall opened the game on a blistering 11-0 run en route to defeating Hood 49-34 on Monday night in women's basketball action. With the victory, the Diplomats improved to 2-9 on the season, while the Blazers fell to 4-9 with the defeat.

Four points from Erica Brown and a three from Lindsey Powers facilitated the strong start for F&M, which saw four different players get on the board as the Diplomats went up 11-0 just three minutes into the game. At the end of the first, F&M held a commanding 15-5 lead.

Hood found its way back into the contest in the second, trailing the Diplomats by just nine at 21-12 with 1:42 left. However, a long two by AnnMarie DiCarlo and a foul shot from Sarah Haddon returned the F&M lead to 24-12 at halftime.

Brown led the Diplomats with eight points at halftime, followed by seven from Powers.

The F&M defense made life difficult for the Blazers, who shot just 14.7 percent from the field in the first half.

Hood remained within striking distance in the opening stages of the third quarter, until a pair of layups from Haley Pilone and Devandria Bernard set the table for an Anajha Burnett three that pushed the Diplomat lead to 39-20 with 1:01 left in the quarter. After three, F&M comfortably led 39-23.

The Blazers proved difficult to shake, putting together an 11-2 run to start the final stanza and pull within seven, trailing 41-34 with 3:35 remaining. However, Hood would get no closer, as Haddon and Brown drained a pair of clutch jumpers to put the game out of reach.

Brown paced the Diplomats with 14 points, collecting 15 rebounds for her third double-double of the year.

Burnett also reached double figures, scoring 13 points while pulling in seven boards. Haddon turned in a strong performance as well, finishing with eight points and 12 rebounds.

F&M featured a balanced scoring attack, as all seven Diplomats that saw the floor converted a field goal. Strong team rebounding produced 63 team rebounds and a +13 rebounding margin for F&M.

Alexis Andrukat, Alexis Briscoe, and Allie Appleby all scored seven points to lead the Blazers.

F&M returns to action on Saturday, returning to Centennial Conference action by hosting Swarthmore for a 1:00 p.m. matchup.