Naples, FL – The second-ranked University of the Cumberlands women's lacrosse team outscored (RV) Ave Maria 11-0 in the second half to pull away for the 21-8 win Friday afternoon at Gyrene Field.  With the win the Patriots improve to 8-0 overall, while the Gyrenes move to 1-7.

Cumberlands struck first as Shea West found Katherine Brewer for a goal just over two minutes into the first half.  Samantha Tullar won the ensuing draw control and converted a free position attempt, nine seconds later, to give the Patriots an early 2-0 lead.  The Patriots took advantage of a Gyrenes penalty as Jaclyn Berry found Tristyn Hudson for a man up goal to make 3-0 with 21:58 remaining in the first half.  Ave Maria netted four of the next five goals, before Berry scored a free position goal to put UC ahead 5-4 midway through the half.  After the Gyrenes evened the score, Tullar and Amanda Phillips scored back-to-back goas to give UC the 7-5 advantage.  The two teams traded goals twice before Kelsey Fearing nets her season goal of the season making it 10-7 with 4:22 left.  Ave Maria added another goal to cut the lead to 10-8 at the half.

The Patriots came out strong in the second half outscoring (11-0) and outshooting (21-7) Ave Maria, while winning the draw control battle (10-2).  Less than a minute into the half Katherine Brewer score a goal to extend the lead to 11-8.  Phillips scored a pair of goals, before Tullar and Emily Heim each connected with the back of the cage to make it 15-8 five minutes into the second half.  Playing man-down Brewer found Angelica Makoski cutting towards the crease for a man-down goal with 21:36 remaining.  UC added three more goals before Phillips found Rachael Giles for her first goal of the contest making it 20-8 with 11:00 remaining. Cumberlands added one more goal, while Emily Crump made seven second half saves for the 21-8 final. 

Leading the way for the Patriots was Tullar who tallied five goals, an assists, and a season-high 12 draw controls. Berry netted four goals and dished out a pair of assists, while Hudson chipped in five points. Heim recorded her second hat trick of the season. 

Defensively, Emily Cabrera and Crump combined for 12 saves and five ground balls in the cage.  Elizabeth Fladung finished with three ground balls. 

The Patriots will return to the field Wednesday, March 21, when they host tenth-ranked Reinhardt in an AAC matchup. The game is slated for 6 p.m. with live video available here and live stats here.  

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