A second half offensive rally proved the difference maker as the UMass women's lacrosse team defeated Harvard 22-17 on Thursday afternoon at Garber Field. The Minutewomen trailed by four at the intermission, but used a pair of four-goal runs in the second half for the win. UMass (5-3) will next begin Atlantic 10 play next Thursday, March 29 at Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia. The opening draw is set for Noon. The Minutewomen were picked in the preseason poll to claim their 10th consecutive league title. In Thursday's action, Holly Turner led UMass with seven points on five goals and two assists. Stephanie Croke had a career-best five points on three goals and two assists while Hannah Burnett netted four goals. The Minutewomen received a spark offensively by a career-high tying three goals and an assist from Hannah Palau marking her first points of the season. Croke was also a major factor on the defensive side of the ball with three caused turnovers and four groundballs, while controlling a career-best five draws. Kiley Anderson finished with a career-best 13 draw controls including nine in the second half which helped turn the tide for the Minutewomen. In goal Lauren Hiller made nine saves while Caroline Wyse made one save with an empty net on a terrific defensive effort in the second half. Harvard (3-4) was led by a game-high eight points on five goals and three assists by Keeley MacAfee and a game-high seven goals by Julia Glynn who also had six draw controls. Olivia Gundrum made six saves in 40 minutes of work, while Meredith Brown made two saves. UMass took control of the game early scoring the first three goals and working up to a 4-1 lead in the first 10 minutes of play. Harvard settled in to go on a six-goal run taking a 7-4 lead at the 8:59 mark. The Crimson extended that margin to four with back-to-back goals in the final three minutes of the first half taking an 11-7 lead into the intermission. The Crimson scored the opening goal of the second half before the Minutewomen began to storm back. Goals by Turner, Cerasi, Bella O'Connor and Cassidy Doster over a three minute stretch pulled UMass back within one, 12-11, with 23:06 to go. MacAfee ended the run to push the lead back to two, but UMass strung together another four-goal streak packed by two scores from Palau and two from Turner putting the Minutewomen back ahead 15-13 with 15:22 to go. Harvard twice pulled back within one, but UMass closed the game with four straight goals in the final three minutes of play to secure the win. For the game, UMass held a 41-38 shot advantage and a 22-to-19 edge in draw controls. The Minutewomen won their ninth consecutive home game and the 31st in the last 32 contests. For complete coverage of the UMass women's lacrosse team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter (@UMassLacrosse), Facebook (@UMassWLacrosse) and Instagram (@UMassLacrosse) as well as online at www.UMassAthletics.com.