DETROIT, Mich. – The Mercyhurst College women's hockey team will play for its eighth College Hockey America Championship after disposing of Robert Morris, 7-1, in the semifinal round of the CHA Tournament Friday afternoon at the City Sports Arena. The Lakers, who extend their winning streak to eight games, improve to 28-2-3 on the season and will play either Niagara or Syracuse for the trophy on Saturday, March 6 at 5 p.m..

Junior captain Jesse Scanzano and sophomore Bailey Bram led the Lakers to their 23rd-straight win over Robert Morris with four points apiece. Scanzano recorded four assists in the contest, including the primary helper on the game-winner, while Bram netted two goals and two assists to move her season point total to 53 and give Mercyhurst three 50-plus point scorers for the first time in program history.

Junior captains Vicki Bendus and Melissa Lacroix each scored once and added an assist, and freshman Samantha Watt dished out two helpers. 

Mercyhurst took command of the game in the first period, scoring three goals on its first five shots. Sophomore Kyleigh Palmer broke the ice with her first goal in a Mercyhurst uniform at the 2:00 mark. Lacroix extended the advantage to two at 4:30, while sophomore Jess Jones made it a three-goal lead just 16 seconds later at 4:46.

Both teams traded goal in the second, with RMU striking first to cut the deficit to two. Chelsea Walkland got the Colonials on the scoreboard with her second of the year at 4:50. Mercyhurst, however, restored the three-goal cushion when Bram connected on a pair of assists from Scanzano and Watt at 14:47.

The Lakers closed out the game with three goals in the third. Bendus ran the score to 5-1 with her 27th goal of the season on the power play just 26 seconds into the frame. Junior Ashley Cockell then added her 19th on an even-strength opportunity to make it 6-1 at 3:26. Bram capped the game with MC's second special-teams goal of the afternoon, scoring her 27th of the season short-handed with under two minutes to play at 18:11.

Sophomore Hillary Pattenden recorded the win with 12 saves through 56:06. Freshman Stephanie Ciampa wrapped up the final 3:54 with three stops. Mercyhurst outshot Robert Morris 41-16 and converted 1-for-4 on the power play. RMU went scoreless with the man-advantage, going 0-for-8.