ERIE, Pa. - The No. 1/1 Mercyhurst College women's hockey team continues College Hockey America play this weekend with a two-game series against Niagara on Friday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Mercyhurst, which enters the series with a 19-1-3 record and a 6-0-1 mark in conference play, has not lost in its last 15 games and remains unbeaten in its last 25 CHA clashes, going 24-0-1 since a setback to Wayne State in 2008.

The Lakers' success during their 15-game unbeaten streak has been an all-around effort, as the offense has averaged 4.91 goals per game while the defense has limited opponents to 1.86 goals per game.

Juniors Vicki Bendus and Jesse Scanzano and sophomore Bailey Bram headline an offensive attack that ranks in the top-5 in almost every national category.

Bendus, the team's leader in points (44), places second in points per game (1.91), fifth in goals per game (0.96), third in assists per game (1.13) and first in short-handed goals (5). Scanzano, despite playing in three fewer games, tops the nation in points per game (2.15) and assists per game (1.30), while Bram ranks second in goals (21), first in game-winning goals (7) and third in goals per game (0.91).

While the forwards have been contributing most of the offense, the defensemen have proven they can shoot the puck as well. Juniors Melissa Lacroix and Cassea Schols have combined for 36 points, with Lacroix scoring a goal and adding 17 assists and Schols netting three scores and 15 helpers. Freshman Samantha Watt ranks third in scoring from the blueline with a goal and 11 points.

Keeping the puck out of the net, sophomore Hillary Pattenden has started every game at the goaltender position, accumulating a 1.86 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. She is 19-1-3 on the season and 18-0-1 against CHA teams.

Coming off a sweep of conference rival Syracuse last weekend, the Lakers look to keep on rolling when the Purple Eagles come to town to conclude the season series.

Mercyhurst went 1-0-1 against Niagara earlier this season and has built a 25-0-3 record over its last 28 meetings. In the all-time series, the Lakers are 32-4-3 since their first meeting during the 1999-00 season.

Back in November, the two teams skated to a 2-2 tie – Mercyhurst's first in 56 games – in game one before the Lakers pitched a 2-0 shutout to claim game two.

Since that series, Niagara has gone 3-5-0 with wins over then-ranked Cornell, Wayne State and Colgate. On the season, the Purple Eagles are 8-10-4 and 3-3-2 in the conference.

The Purple Eagles boast three players with 10 or more points. Freshman Jenna Hedrikx leads the team with 11 goals and 18 points, followed by senior Jennifer MacLean with seven goals and 16 points and senior Frances McPhail with four goals and 13 points.

Junior Jenni Bauer (8-10-4) has played in 22 games in goal, building a 2.35 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

Following this weekend, the Lakers will play a make-up game against Robert Morris on Tuesday, Feb. 2, before traveling to Pittsburgh, Pa., to face the Colonials in a two-game set on Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6 at the RMU Island Sports Center. Both games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.