HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Utica College outscored Houghton 11-2 in the second half to claim a 15-4 Empire 8 women's lacrosse win on Saturday.

Jenny Zacchigna put the Highlanders up 1-0 at the 24:26 mark of the first half, before the Pioneers scored four-straight to take control with 1:27 to go in the half. However, Chandler Jones gave Houghton a spark with a goal with just :33 seconds remaining to make the deficit 4-2 at the half.

Any momentum the hosts had going into the half quickly faded over the first few minutes of the second half. The Pioneers scored twice in the first 1:08 and, after Zacchigna's second goal, scored eight more times over a nine-minute stretch to push the lead to 14-3. The teams traded the final two goals in the game's last five minutes. Meghan Oswald got credit for Houghton's final tally.

Utica outshot Houghton, 35-15, and controlled most of the play in the final 30 minutes. They dominated 12-2 on draw controls and pressured the Highlanders into turnovers when they did gain control.

Kourtnie Franklin made 10 saves in net. Alison Clark stopped one shot and allowed one goal in relief.

The Highlanders (4-9; 1-4 E8) next play St. John Fisher at home on Friday, April 22.