LOS ANGELES – A high-scoring first half was the difference as Occidental defeated Linfield 17-5 in a women’s lacrosse match Saturday at Patterson Field.

Already holding a slim 3-2 lead, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run over the final 22 minutes of the first half to take a commanding lead heading into the break.

Occidental also outscored Linfield in the second period 6-3 to secure the victory.

The Wildcat defense could not contain Tori Larson, who led Occidental with six goals. Teammate Zoey Adams added three scores and a trio of other Tigers had two.

Shelby Duarte (Soph., San Ramon, Calif.) provided the bulk of the offense for Linfield, tallying two goals. Mariah Jones, Erika Helm-Buckman and Brittani Drost (Sr., Forest Grove, Ore.) added one each.

The Tigers, who compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, improve to 3-5 on the season. By losing their fifth-straight match, the ‘Cats are now 1-7.

NEXT: Linfield plays its third and final game in California, a matchup against Whittier Sunday at 11 a.m.