ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell women's lacrosse outscored Albany 7-1 in the decisive second quarter and never let the Great Danes back into the game, winning its third straight with a 20-15 triumph on Tuesday evening at Schoellkopf Field. The Big Red improved to 6-3, while UAlbany fell to 3-6.

The Big Red's balanced scoring continued as 10 different players scored goals and eight of them had multi-point efforts in the Big Red's triumph. Genevieve DeWinter led the way with four goals and an assists, while Sophie Ward tallied four times. Sophie Alois and Kylie Gelabert were each credited with two goals and an assist, while Shannon Brazier's goal and two assists equaled their three-point days. Hilary Hoover caused three turnovers and won three ground balls, while Annie Thomas established a new school record with 12 draw controls - surpassing her own record of 11. Katie McGahan, the reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week, made five saves and Ellie Horner had two more in relief between the pipes. McGahan moved into fourth on the school's career saves list with 368.

Katie Pascale had an eight-point effort in the loss for the Great Danes (four goals, four assists), while Allie Maloney had five scores. Pascale added five draws, four ground balls and two caused turnovers for the visitors. Cailey Haynes also had a solid stat line with five draws, four ground balls and three caused turnovers. The goalkeeping tandem of Aislinn Sweeney and Alexa Driscoll combined for eight saves.

The teams went back and forth over the first 18 minutes, with Albany actually taking a 6-4 lead early in the second quarter before the Big Red came to life. Seven consecutive goals allowed the home team to take control, all scoring in the span of just 6:46. Alexa Donahoe got it started on a pass from DeWinter, who tied it up 19 seconds later on a free position shot, one of five the Big Red cashed in on. Josie Vogel, Sophie Ward and Kylie Gelabert all scored in succession to make it 9-6, and the Big Red ended with two more goals in the span of 32 seconds. DeWinter scored her third of the night and Castiello answered shortly after. When it was all over, Cornell rode an 11-6 lead into the break.

The Great Danes closed within three early in the second half, but a 3-0 run and a separate 3-1 spurt closed the Great Danes out. Cornell led by as many as seven goals (19-12) with nine minutes to play before UAlbany scored three late. Sophie Alois scored right before the horn on a behind-the-back shot to get Cornell to 20 goals for just the 11th time ever.

In the history of women's lacrosse at Cornell, a player has reached double figures in draw controls in a game just six times. Thomas has now accomplished that feat on four occasions, including twice this season. Her 56 draw controls already this season ranks fourth in a single season and is just 12 off Sarah Hefner's 2014 mark of 68.
 

NEXT UP

• Cornell will play a neutral site non-conference game against nationally-ranked Jacksonville on Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m. at Tierney Field in Sparks, Md.
• The Big Red won the only previous meeting between the teams with a 22-13 victory on March 20, 2012 in Jacksonville, matching a then-school record with its 22 goals.