A five-goal second half run proved the difference maker as the top-seeded UMass women's lacrosse team defeated fourth-seeded Saint Joseph's, 20-11, on Friday afternoon at George Mason Stadium. Redshirt senior attack Kiley Anderson led the charge for the Minutewomen with a game-high six goals to tie a single-game Atlantic 10 Tournament record which placed UMass (15-3) into the championship title game for the 12th consecutive year. It was the second half run that opened up what was a nip-and-tuck first half which featured a two-hour, nine-minute delay due to thunderstorms and lightning strikes in the area. The game was officially paused with 5:51 remaining in the first half before UMass went into halftime with an 8-5 lead. The second half run put UMass up 15-7 with just over 17 minutes to go and the Minutewomen never looked back. Anderson finished the day with seven points adding an assist on the day. Kaitlyn Cerasi matched Anderson's game-high seven points with a four-goal, three assist effort which moved her into eighth all-time in program history with 205 career points and fifth in assists with 102. Haley Connaughton added three goals and an assist, while Brinley Anderson (assist) and Emma Dotsikas each tallied two goals as well. Lauren Hiller picked up the win in cage making 12 saves in 57 minutes of work before Gina Carroll closed out the final three minutes with one save. Hayley Sabol led SJU (11-8) with two goals and two assists, while Francesca Donato, Stephanie Kelly and Lauren Figura each tallied two as well. Amber Weedon took the loss in goal making 11 saves. The Hawks opened the scoring just over 90 seconds into play before the Minutewomen tallied three straight over the next five minutes to go up 3-1 early. Saint Joseph's scored three of the next five goals to pull within one, 5-4, but Anderson's goal at 6:01 put UMass back up by two before storms and lightning rolled in 10 seconds later to force the delay. When the teams returned to play just over two hours later, UMass wasted no time on the offensive side. Dotsikas scored her first of teh day followed by Anderson's third of the first half allowing the Minutewomen to take an 8-5 lead into halftime. Out of the break, Hannah Palau and Cerasi each scored in the first minute of play, but the Hawks were able to score twice to keep the deficit at three. Anderson then scored back-to-back goals followed by Dotsikas, Connaughton and Cerasi pushing the lead to eight at the 17:18 mark. Anderson scored her sixth of the day, 62nd of the year, with 3:31 to go and Olivia Muscella netted a goal 22 seconds later to put the Minutewomen up 20-10. Saint Joseph's closed out the scoring with 39 seconds left in regulation. UMass finished with a 36-to-33 advantage in shots and won 18-of-32 draw controls paced by 10 wins from Caitlyn Petro. The Minutewomen will face the winner of second-seeded George Mason taking on third-seeded Richmond in the second Atlantic 10 semifinal. The championship game is set for Noon on Sunday, April 28 and will be streamed live on ESPN+.