Alexandria, Va. – The UMBC women's lacrosse team improved to 5-0 for the first time in program history after overpowering William & Mary, 17-10, on Wednesday afternoon at Episcopal High School.

Senior Grace Bruce scored a game-high five goals and added six draw controls, two caused turnovers, and three ground balls to lead the Retrievers. The attackman received plenty of help from freshman linemate Emily Knapp (four goals, three assists, three ground balls, three caused turnovers). Senior midfielder Katana Nelson and sophomore attacker Emma O'Callaghan (three assists) contributed a pair of goals. Junior defender Ella Killian added six draw controls and three ground balls, while senior defender Ria Lagdameo caused a pair of turnovers.

Graduate student Isabella Fontana made nine saves in the cage to pick up her fifth win of the campaign.

UMBC held a 38-28 advantage in shots and won 19-of-31 draw controls.

The Retrievers bolted to a 5-0 lead with 5:06 left in the opening quarter and never looked back. Knapp scored a pair of goals and added an assist during the opening run, while O'Callaghan added a woman-up tally and a helper.

UMBC increased the lead to 7-1 late in the first quarter as Bruce scored her first two goals of the game.

The Tribe pulled within four goals on a pair of occasions in the second quarter, the final one coming at 9-5 after Ainsley Huizenga's second her second marker of the frame with 7:19 left in the half. Freshman Tess Curtis scored the final goal of the stanza to give the Dawgs a 10-5 advantage at intermission.

William & Mary closed within 12-8 with 1:32 left in the third quarter after a tally by Sydney Witwer. The Retrievers, however, reeled off three straight early in the fourth quarter to take complete control as they held a 15-8 advantage at the 11:07 mark. Junior attackman Libby Staples, Bruce, and Nelson produced the goals during the run.

Knapp and junior attacker Lizzie Bateman (woman-up) iced the game in the closing minutes after the Tribe managed to inch within 15-10.

UMBC will look to make it 6-0 when they visit Temple on Saturday in Philadelphia.