ERIE, Pa. – With an assist in the first period of Saturday's 8-0 win over Penn State, senior Christine Bestland of the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team recorded her 200^th career point to become the fifth player in program history to reach the milestone. She joined Valerie Chouinard, Bailey Bram, Jesse Scanzano, and Meghan Agosta-Marciano as the only players in school history to accomplish the feat.

Bestland, a native of Brunkild, Manitoba, has been one of the top forwards in the Mercyhurst program since joining the roster her freshman season (2010-11). Throughout her career, Bestland has collected 80 goals, 120 assists for the 200 points in just 125 games played. She tied Scanzano (85g, 140a) as the second-fastest player to reach the 200-point mark. Agosta-Marciano (157g, 146a) collected her 200th career point in just 92 games to become the fastest player to reach the milestone. Through her feat, Bestland is also the 25th player in NCAA Division I women's hockey to reach 200 points.

"We are very proud of the past and present staff and players anytime they reach milestones or accomplish goals that make themselves and our program shine," raved head coach Michael Sisti.

Currently, Bestland is tied for fourth all-time in career points with Chouinard, who finished her career with an even 200 points (91g, 109a). Bram is third all-time with 201 points (87g, 114a). Scanzano finished her career with 225 points, good for second all-time, while Agosta-Marciano holds the team and the NCAA records with 303 career points. Bestland is averaging 1.6 points per game in her career and is fourth all-time in goals (80), fifth in power-play goals (29), fourth in assists (120), and sixth in +/- rating (107).

Heading into the weekend, Bestland needed just five points which she collected with a hat trick and an assist during Friday's contest and an assist on the second goal Saturday for a five point weekend. Previously, Bestland scored her 50th career goal against Lindenwood on January 25, 2013 and achieved her career 150th point in the same contest. She is 20 goals shy of 100, which would make her just the second player in the program to do so.

The two-time captain registered a career-high 72 points in a season last year, fourth all-time in a season in school history, finishing with 28 goals and 44 assists. The 5-9 senior was named the 2013 College Hockey America Player of the Year and won the 2013 CHA Scoring Trophy. She has been named to an All-College Hockey America team since her rookie season and was named to the All-Tournament team in both 2012 and 2013.

Throughout her career in the CHA, Bestland has also collected 22 Player of the Week awards, including three this season, and four Player of the Month nods. She is the all-time single-season leader in assists in the conference after collecting 23 last year, and is second in points against CHA opponents (43) and in goals (20).

"We are fortunate to have had so many great student-athletes in our program who have won an abundant amount of awards and have accomplished so many things on and off the ice," stated Sisti. "Christine has had a wonderful career and we are all happy to see her reach this milestone."

This year, Bestland has collected 28 points in just 19 games this year to average 1.47 points per game, placing her eighth in the country in scoring. She is sixth in assists per game, averaging almost one assist per contest (0.95). Bestland has also matched her career-high with two shorthanded goals this season, tying her for second in the country.