Gainesville, GA – The sixth-ranked Patriots women's lacrosse team opened conference play with an impressive 31-3 win over Brenau Wednesday afternoon.  With the win, UC extends its win streak to three straight and improve to 4-1 overall.

Bella Ricchiazzi led the way for Cumberlands with four goals and seven points in the win, while Anna Lobbezoo notched a career-high five goals to go along with six draw controls.  Morgan Tate and Morgan Terpstra combined for 11 points, while Emma Rittman and Marisa Helsten notched four points apiece.  Rittman scooped a career-high 13 draw controls and six ground balls to go along with four caused turnovers.  In total 14 Patriot players as Koral Hadac added nine draw controls and three points.  Mia Bosah earned her first win between the pipes this season.

Koral Hadac won the opening draw control of the game and on the ensuing possession Emma Rittman found Morgan Tate in front of the cage for a goal.  Marisa Helsten added a goal before Koral Hadac forced a turnover and found Bella Ricchiazzi in transition for a goal making it 3-0 five minutes into the contest.  Anna Lobbezoo scored twice before Morgan Terpstra connected with the back of the cage extending the lead to 6-0 midway through the opening quarter.  Cumberlands continued to be efficient of the offensive end as the Richiazzi and Tate each added a goal before Brenau got on the board cutting the lead to 8-1 with 2:19 remaining.  In the closing seconds of the opening quarter, Erin Bryant found Aleyah Belton for a goal making it 9-1.

The Golden Tigers scored first in the second quarter, however, the Patriots responded quickly as Rittman forced a turnover and ran a give-an-go with Helsten to extend the lead to 10-2.  Ricchiazzi added a goal before finding Mia Rask in the transition for a goal giving UC an 12-2 advantage midway through the second period.  The Patriots closed out the half with five unanswered goals, including one from Hadac to Belton in the closing seconds to make it 17-2 at the break.

UC won the first three draw controls of the third quarter and turned them into goals pushing the lead to 20-2 four minutes in.  Lobbezzoo forced a turnover on Brenau's first offensive possession of the period, which resulted in a Tate goal off an assist from Terpstra.  UC continue to control the possession for almost all of the third period and tapped on five consecutive goals, including goals from Reese Kincaid, Erin Bryant, and Christina Min all of which netted their first goal of the season.

Madison Rupp chipped in her first collegiate goal to open the fourth quarter.  The two teams traded goals before Cumberlands netted the final three goals of the contest for the 31-3 final.

The Patriots set a program record with 31 goals and 50 points, while the 30 draw controls are tied for the program record.

UC returns to the Burg to face Madonna on Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m.  Live video of the game is available here.

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