Indiana, Pennsylvania -- The Millersville women's lacrosse team started strong in the first half against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival No.17 Indiana University (Pa.) but lost 11-9 after an offensive explosion from IUP in the second half Saturday.

IUP opened the scoring with two goals in the first five minutes. Millersville answered with three straight goals in three minutes to take lead 3-2. Junior Callie Kavanaugh led the first Marauder charge as she fed Kristin Butzner for the first goal. Senior Renee Landis found Sarah Leverentz for a goal 90 seconds later. Kavanaugh scored an unassisted goal another 90 seconds later.

Millersville and IUP traded goals between the 14th minute and 17th minute. Senior Taylor Davis ripped a free position goal into the back of the next to give Millersville a 4-3 lead, but IUP answered to tie at 4-4. In the final seven minutes of the first half, Millersville scored two unanswered goals to make their lead 6-4. Landis assisted junior Sabrina Fusco's goal, their seventh connection of the season. Davis closed out the half with another free position goal.

IUP turned up the offensive pressure quickly in the second half scoring their fifth goal in the opening 30 seconds. IUP scored two more unanswered goals in the opening ten minutes of the second half to take the lead back 7-6. With 18:33 remaining, Landis fed sophomore Nathalie Sell's goal to tie the game 7-7. IUP took the lead back three minutes later, and the score held until halfway through the 25th minute. With four and a half minutes remaining, Fusco fed Butzner's second goal of the game to tie the game up at 8-8. IUP scored three unanswered goals in the final four minutes to cinch up the lead for the Crimson Hawks. With five seconds remaining Davis scored her third free position goal of the game to close the game 11-9 in favor of IUP.

Landis' three assists takes her point total to a team high 27. Fusco's point total rose to 25 points with 17 goals and eight assists. Davis' goal total rose to nine and tied with Landis for second most on the team. Cavanaugh, Butzner, and Sell all have eight goals on the season and are tied with senior Jamie Damirgian for third most on the team.

Millersville falls to 4-3 on the season and are on a three game losing streak. However, the Marauders three losses have been against nationally ranked opponents. The Marauders will look to bounce back at PSAC rival Bloomsburg University March 29 at 4:00 p.m.