The 14th ranked University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team broke open a 2-1 lead at halftime to pull away with a 12-4 victory over 15th ranked Christopher Newport University on Wednesday in Capital Athletic Conference action at the Battleground. The Eagles improve to 12-3, while the Captains fall to 11-3. Both teams are 5-2 in CAC play.

UMW scored early to grab the lead, as sophomore Holly Hudson scored with 27:09 remaining. With 20:59 left in the first, senior Ashlyn Dacey upped the margin to 2-0 with an unassisted tally. In a slow tempo first half, CNU scored the third and final goal of the first half with 9:04 to go.

In the second, the Eagles turned the pace up several notches. Hudson scored with 28:51 remaining, and Dacey scored 4 seconds later to lift the Eagle lead to 4-1. Dacey scored her third goal of the day with 25:00 left, giving UMW a 5-1 advantage.

CNU cut into the deficit with a score one minute later, but the Eagles seized control by netting the next five goals. Sabrina Elliott scored goals with 20:11 and 18:55 left, the latter coming on a Mackenzie Maguire assist.

Hudson scored with 11:47 to play, and Dacey scored again with 9:07 left. Emily Mott collected a loose ball and scored to up the lead to 10-2 with 6:56 remaining. CNU scored a pair of goals over the next two minutes, but the Eagles netted the last two, with Paige Childers scoring with 2:14 left, and Maguire scoring on a Sarah Hampton feed with 31 seconds left.

The Eagles led in shots, 31-13, and each team had 17 ground balls. UMW won 12 of 18 draw controls, with freshman goalie Hanna Ashby collecting six saves. Maiah Bartlett had three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Dacey ended with four goals, and Hudson three for UMW, who will close the regular season on Saturday hosting Marymount University at 1:00 p.m. for senior day.