AMHERST, MA. – A seven-point performance from sophomore attack Kate Becker delivered the No. 19-ranked Amherst College women's lacrosse team their third win of the season on Tuesday, March 26. Taking on local out-of-conference opponent Westfield State on Gooding Field, the Mammoths bested the Owls 18-9.

With the victory, the Mammoths improved to 3-4 this season, while the Owls fell to 4-4. The Mammoths will play the third game of their home stand on Saturday, March 30, taking on Stevens Institute of Technology, looking start a non-conference win streak. The contest against the Ducks will begin at 12 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* The Mammoths opened the game on fire, scoring three times in the contest's first five minutes. Becker scored first on a first-minute crease-roll before Emma Crotty netted off a pass from Mia Raven just 90 seconds later to give the Mammoths a 2-0 lead. Although the Owls got one back, Clara Sosa made it 3-1 with a with a quick-stick goal off a feed from Becker.

* The home side made it 4-1 with five minutes to go in the first quarter with Elizabeth Rose converting a free-position opportunity. Bridget Finley widened the Mammoth lead to five, with netting on a beautiful shot from a tough angle.
 
* From then on, it was the Kate Becker show. She got her second of the night with a quick-stick tally off an assist from Sosa and scored her third just 40 seconds later. Her fourth of the quarter, off an assist from Mary Gum, closed the period with Amherst on top 8-1.
 
* The second quarter was much of the same. Sosa got her second of the game, Crotty did the same shortly after for a nine-goal lead, and Sofia Guttmann followed with two of her own. A Westfield State goal followed, but the Mammoths responded via Guttmann to finish the half ahead 13-2.
 
* The Owls started the third quarter with three goals to bring the lead to single digits and held the Mammoths until just 1:10 remained in the frame. It was then that Amherst hit paydirt by way of Olivia Stewart, who received a pass from Campbell Moriarty and beat her defender before netting. Another Westfield State goal closed the quarter with the score at 14-6.
 
* Becker's fifth of the game got the final frame started on a positive note, and it was that momentum that the Mammoths rode to the finish. Raven got her reward for her stellar playmaking throughout the game with a solo-goal, and Rachel Rodgers netted to make it 17-6.
 
* Two Owls goals again to shrink the lead once more, but Rodgers scored again to return the margin to 10. Despite another Westfield State goal with 15 seconds left, the Mammoths walked away with a 18-9 victory.
 

 
BY THE NUMBERS:

* Becker's five goals and two assists gave her seven points on the night and was good for the second-best individual point-performance in the NESCAC this season.

* With a goal and three assists on the night, Raven extended her point streak to seven games to begin her collegiate career and brought her team-leading tally to 21 points this season.
 
* Jessye Salmon and Caroline Stole split time in net for the Mammoths, with Salmon starting the game and making one save, and Stole playing the second half and making four of her own.