NORTON, Mass. -- The Mount Holyoke College lacrosse team kept within striking distance of NEWMAC rival Wheaton College for the majority of their contest Saturday, but the host Wheaton Lyons pulled away in the second half to top the visiting Mount Holyoke Lyons 17-5.

Mount Holyoke (3-6, 1-4 NEWMAC) kept within five goals of Wheaton (6-3, 3-0 NEWMAC) until a 3-0 spurt by Wheaton in the third quarter, with goals scored by Emma-Jane Parsons, Sara Spielman and Jessica Chamberlin, expanded its lead to 11-3.

A free-position goal by MHC junior Emi Bisson (Chester, Conn.) stemmed the Wheaton run momentarily, but the hosts picked up again with two goals before the end of the third quarter to take a commanding 13-4 lead.

First-year midfielder Juliana Spaulding (Wakefield, Mass.) scored three goals for Mount Holyoke, reaching the 30-goal mark nine games into her career. Now with six hat tricks to her credit, Spaulding ranks second in the NEWMAC in goals per game (3.33).

Junior Elle Mader (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored and Bisson added a goal and an assist, but it wasn't enough to keep Wheaton from staying undefeated in conference play. The hosts outshot the visitors by a 30-18 margin and won 17 of 25 draws.

Chamberlain scored four goals and added an assist, Gabs Smart had three goals and two assists, and Sophia Gromala had a goal and four assists to pace Wheaton. Sara Spielman, Megan Cuddy, Georgia Qua, and Parsons added two goals apiece.

First-year goalie Valeria Bolanos (Newington, Conn.) collected seven saves and five ground balls for Mount Holyoke, while first-year defender Josie McFadden (Edmonton, Alberta) had four ground balls and a team-high two caused turnovers.

Mount Holyoke will host Salem State on Tuesday, April 1 at 6pm, in the Lyons' last non-conference game of the season.