LAKELAND, Fla. – Junior midfielder Kim Hooven (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) scored two goals, but No. 12 Florida Southern raced out to a big halftime lead, downing IUP women's lacrosse, 16-8, Wednesday afternoon.

Freshman attacker Adrian Greco continued her strong start to the young season by giving IUP another quick start. Greco put the Crimson Hawks on the scoreboard just 47 seconds into the game, scoring unassisted for her eighth tally of the season.

Sophomore Bailey McLeish (Courtice, Ontario/Anderson C.V.I) cut the Mocs' lead in half to 4-2 when she scored her second goal of the year with 15:30 left in the first half. Six minutes later, Brenna Gallagher (Evans City, Pa./Seneca Valley) scored off a pass from Amy Weinberg (Clarksville, Md./Atholton) to keep IUP within four at 7-3.

However, Florida Southern would add three more goals before halftime to head into intermission leading, 10-3.

The Crimson Hawks came out firing in the second half, scoring three-straight goals and four within the first 10 minutes to get the game within four goals at 11-7. During the run, senior Brittney Palardy (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) scored her second of the year, while freshman Ally Burrows (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) scored her 10th of the year and Hooven her second of the game.

Florida Southern put the game away by scoring four unanswered goals.

Florida Southern outshot IUP, 30-19, but 18 of IUP's shots were on target. Both teams had 13 draw controls, while sophomore goalkeeper Angela Lontoc (Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) saved 10 shots in goal.

IUP, now 1-2 on the season, wraps up its spring break trip in Florida Friday against Tampa. That game is set to start at noon.

For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's lacrosse on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPlacrosse.