EMMITSBURG, Md. – UMBC women's lacrosse exploded for an 11-goal first half against Mount St. Mary's on Saturday afternoon at Waldron Family Stadium and would go on to defeat the Mount, 15-2. Senior midfielder Kristen Bilney (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) registered her third hat trick of the season, while sophomore Rachel Benzing (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) tallied a game-high five points on two goals and three assists.

The Retrievers improve to 3-4 on the season, while Mount St. Mary's moves to 1-6.

UMBC scored 14 unanswered goals in the contest, including all 11 of the goals in the opening period. The Retrievers jumped out to the early 2-0 lead 3:06 into the contest. Junior Alyssa Semones (Westminster, Md./Westminster/Penn State) gathered a pass from Benzing and blasted home the game's first score. Freshman Caroline Haggerty (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll School) connected on her first of two straight goals 26:54 into the half.

Haggerty added her second goal on just her second shot of the afternoon 7:17 into the game. Two minutes later Bilney extended the Retrievers' lead to 4-0. Bilney would also set up Semones second score of the day with 19:10 left in the half.

Junior Abby Wilson (Bel Air, Md./Fallston) and freshman Amber Kovalick (Davidsonville, Md./South River) combined for four of UMBC's final six goals of the period. The Retrievers held a 19-6 shot advantage in the opening 30 minutes of action, while Mount St. Mary's held a 9-3 lead in draw controls.

Bilney scored back-to-back goals three minutes apart during the early part of the second half, with Wilson and Benzing dishing out assists, respectively. Freshman Mackenzie Reese (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll School) registered the game's only free position goal with 17:43 remaining to extend the Retrievers' lead to 14-0.

Mount St. Mary's scored two straight, the first coming from Erin Seipp with 12:39 remaining and the second from Sammie Knapp 1:21 later.

Benzing would round out the scoring with 5:34 to go in the contest.

Bilney and Wilson finished the contest with four points apiece. Wilson led UMBC with four ground balls and two draw controls. Defenders Jackie Benson (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) and Courtney Thompson (Edgewater, Md./South River) each caused a pair of turnovers in the victory, while goalkeeper Anna Barnett (Midland, Texas/Midland) earned the win and stopped four shots.

The Retrievers return home on Saturday, March 22 when it hosts Temple at noon at the UMBC Stadium.