PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- The Plymouth State University women's lacrosse team held off visiting Bridgewater State University, 16-13, on Tuesday night at Panther Field.

The Panthers improve to 7-3 on the season, while the Bears fall to 4-6.

Plymouth State junior attack Emily Santom (Litchfield, N.H.) led all players with a game-high five goals, while freshman attack Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) checked in with three markers and a game-best three assists. Senior midfielder Devon Mello (Laconia, N.H.) also scored three goals for the Panthers.

Senior attack Katherine Tracy (Marion, Mass.), senior midfielder Delaney Langton (Scituate, R.I.) and freshman attack Nina Liquori (Agawam, Mass.) each scored three times for Bridgewater State with Tracy also contributing an assist. Junior midfielder Katie O'Brien (Pembroke, Mass.) added a pair of goals for the Bears.

The Bears trailed 11-7 at the intermission, but reeled off four straight goals over the first five minutes of the third quarter. Liquori opened the period with back-to-back unassisted tallies, while Langton also found the back of the net for the Bears and graduate defender Kelsi Brennan (Dedham, Mass.) converted off an assist from Tracy to even the score.

Santom found the back of the net off a feed from junior attack Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) to put the Panthers back on top, and Thomas connected for an unassisted goal at the 6:07 mark of the third quarter to give the hosts a 13-11 lead. O'Brien pulled the Bears to within one with senior attack Jacqueline DeLorey (Westwood, Mass.) picking up the assist to close out the scoring in the session.

Strong goaltending from sophomore netminder Piper Sherbert (Freeport, Maine) in the final period helped the Panthers pull away for the victory.

Junior attack Sarah Schartner (Plymouth, N.H.) converted off the free position to make it a 14-12 game. Langton answered for Bridgewater State at the 7:52 mark of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to one, but the Bears would not score again. Sherbert made four key stops following Langton's goal, while Donovan and Santom each found the back of the net to secure the win for Plymouth State.

The Panthers held a 36-30 shot advantage for the game as well as a 22-11 edge in draw controls. PSU sophomore midfielder Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) tallied a game-high 11 draw controls and junior midfielder Julia Mahoney (Stratford, Conn.) added six draws.

Sherbert made seven saves to record her seventh win of the season. Five of Sherbert's seven stops came in the fourth quarter alone.

Junior netminder Olivia Kerrigan (Braintree, Mass.) turned aside nine shots in the setback for the Bears.

Brennan led the BSU defensive effort with three caused turnovers and three ground balls to go along with three draw controls including the 100th of her career. Langton also forced three turnovers and registered two ground balls and a pair of draw controls.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday. The Bears entertain Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) foe Fitchburg State University at six o'clock, while the Panthers host Little East Conference (LEC) rival Keene State College at one.