AMHERST, Mass. - A nine-goal run in the first half proved the difference maker as the UMass women's lacrosse team raced out to an 18-8 win over Marist on Wednesday afternoon at Garber Field. The Minutewomen cruised with a 37-to-16 shot advantaged and maintained possession of the ball for the bulk of the game winning 20-of-27 draw controls. Kiley Anderson led the Minutewomen (3-2) with five goals, an assist, and eight draw controls. Haley Connaughton tallied three goals and three assists to tie Anderson with a game-high six points. Hannah Palau rounded out the top scorers with three goals as UMass had eight different goal scorers in the game. Marist (2-3) was led by four goals from Samantha Mehalick highlighted by three free position tallies. Delaney Galvin made 10 saves in cage taking the loss. UMass opened the first 1:13 of the game with goals from Anderson and Connaughton after an illegal stick violation on the Red Foxes provided the Minutewomen a two-minute unreleasable man-up advantage. Connaughton added another at the 24:43 mark to put UMass up 3-0. At the 19:51 mark, Marist made it a two goal game after a pair of free position goals cutting the lead to 4-2. From there, it was all UMass with the Minutewomen scoring nine straight to go up 13-2 with 5:11 to go before halftime. After UMass led 14-3 at the break, Marist scored the first two goals of the second half forcing a timeout by the Minutewomen. UMass scored back-to-back goals when play resumed with Palau and Cassidy Doster (2 goals) putting the Maroon and White up 16-5 with 17:17 to go. Marist scored three of the next five goals to give the final 18-8 score. UMass will return to action Monday, March 11 against Ohio State and Wednesday, March 13 against Niagara with both games being played at Stetson University in Deland, Fla.