ERIE, Pa. – Senior Jenni Bauer made a season-high 44 saves, and the Niagara Purple Eagles stunned the top-ranked Mercyhurst College women's hockey team, 2-1, in College Hockey America play Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

The Lakers, who suffer their first loss since Oct. 31, 2009, fall to 20-2-3 on the season and 7-1-1 in the CHA, while Niagara improves to 9-11-4 overall and 4-4-2 in the league.

Niagara used a pair of goals in the third period to open up the scoring and snap a 29-game winless streak against Mercyhurst.

Junior Autumn Stuntz gave the Purple Eagles a 1-0 advantage when she ripped a shot from the top of the left circle past sophomore Hillary Pattenden at the 2:09 mark. Less than eight minutes later senior Jennifer MacLean scored the eventual game-winner on a rebound in front of the net at 9:10.

Mercyhurst got on the board and broke up the shutout when sophomore Jess Jones took a pass junior Jesse Scanzano behind the net and sent it to the far post on the power play at 16:15. Junior Ashley Cockell earned the secondary assist on the play.

The Lakers outshot the Purple Eagles 45-15 and converted 1-for-5 on the power play. Pattenden finished the game with 13 saves and helped hold the Purple Eagles scoreless on three extra-man opportunities.

Mercyhurst returns to action this week with three games against CHA foe Robert Morris. The Lakers and Colonials faceoff in a make-up game from early December on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. in Erie, before traveling to Pittsburgh for 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.