NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Smith College all but put the game out of reach with a 12-0 lead after one half, but the Mount Holyoke College lacrosse team played the Pioneers evenly in the second half as the visiting Lyons fell 17-5 on Friday evening in the NEWMAC opener for both teams.

Smith (4-3, 1-0 NEWMAC) took advantage of Mount Holyoke's turnovers and a 10-4 difference in draw controls in the first half to outshoot the Lyons 24-1 over the first 30 minutes.

Mount Holyoke (1-6, 0-1 NEWMAC) regained its footing with a strong second half, controlling six of 11 draws and flipping turnovers into a 10-8 advantage over the Pioneers, while evening out shots attempted to a 9-7 edge for Smith.

Sophomore Emi Bisson (Chester, Conn.) scored three goals to go with a game-high seven draw controls for Mount Holyoke. Bisson drew within a point of the career 100-point plateau with the effort, having tallied 70 goals and 29 assists for the Lyons in 22 career games.

Junior Ella Phillips (Sandwich, Mass.) had a goal and an assist and sophomore Elle Mader (Cincinnati, Ohio) also scored for Mount Holyoke. Sophomore Alex Twomey (Nutley, N.J.) had a team-high two caused turnovers to go with a ground ball and her first career draw control.

Caroline Sanders scored twice in the first quarter and finished with a game-high four goals and an assist for Smith. Kyra Hawk had a game-high six points with three goals and three assists, and Jennie Arancio added two goals and two assists.

First-year Syd Baker (Needham, Mass.) made 10 saves in goal for Mount Holyoke. Three Smith goalies combined for two saves in the game.

Mount Holyoke will play host to Emerson College on Saturday, April 23 at 1pm. Smith will play at Nazareth on Sunday at 2pm.