Complete Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior co-captain Bailey Bram scored her fourth career hat trick and senior goaltender Hillary Pattenden stopped 23 shots as #10 Mercyhurst climbed back above .500 with a 5-0 win at Providence Saturday afternoon. The Lakers improved to 3-2-0 while the Friars dropped to 0-3-2.

Bram scored all three goals on the power play as the Lakers cashed 3 of 6 opportunities.

Sophomore forward Christie Cicero scored the only goal of the first period when she slid one past Providence netminder Genevieve Lacasse at 15:56. Cicero's lamplighter was unassisted and was her first of the season. Mercyhurst enjoyed a 14-7 shot advantage in the first period.

Bram scored two of her goals in the second period, just 47 seconds apart. Her third of the year, at 9:23, came on a 5-on-3 and was helped by senior Kelley Steadman and freshman Molly Byrne. Her fourth of the campaign, at 10:12, was aided by senior Jess Jones and freshman Vaila Higson and came during the second half of a two-skater advantage. The Lakers outshot the Friars 23-6 in the period.

Bram completed her hat trick at 5:09 of the third, assisted by Jones and sophomore Christine Bestland. Steadman closed the scoring with her third of the year, from Bestland and freshman Hailey Browne, at 14:40.

Mercyhurst outshot Providence 12-10 in the third period and 49-23 for the game. Providence finished 0 for 4 with the skater advantage.

Pattenden's 14th career shutout improved her season mark to 3-2-0, her goals-against-average to 1.58 and her save percentage to .944. She extended her record career win total to 83, just eight wins shy of the NCAA Division I all-time wins record, held by Wisconsin's Jessie Vetter, who finished with 91.

Bram now has a hat trick in each of her four seasons. After scoring a combined six goals in their first three games, the Lakers have collected ten in the last two.

Mercyhurst and Providence will complete the weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m.