ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Behind a balanced attack that saw 12 players get on the stat sheet, the top-ranked Mercyhurst College women's hockey team scored eight unanswered goals to overcome an early deficit and defeat Minnesota State - Mankato, 8-2, in the first game of the 2010 Easton Hockey Showcase Saturday afternoon.

The Lakers, winners of seven straight, improve to 16-1-1 on the season and 10-0-1 away from the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Minnesota State - Mankato, meanwhile, falls to 4-9-4 overall and 1-9-0 against Mercyhurst.

Mercyhurst came two points shy of tying its season-high mark for points in a game as 12 players combined for 21 on the afternoon. Four players contributed three points apiece, including junior Vicki Bendus, who scored two goals and added an assist to improve her team-leading point total to 33. Junior Ashley Cockell, sophomore Jess Jones and freshman Lauren Jones each added a goal and two assists.

After spotting the Mavericks a 2-0 lead in the first period, Mercyhurst shrugged off the deficit with five goals in the second and three in the third, marking its largest run since scoring eight in a row against Niagara on Feb. 21, 2009.

Bendus evened the slate with back-to-back goals at 5:08 and 9:42, before sophomore Kelley Steadman gave the Lakers a 3-2 advantage at the 14:12 mark. Lauren Jones then doubled the lead with her fourth goal in the past three games at 15:25. Cockell made it a 5-2 game with less than a minute remaining in the frame at 19:14.

Mercyhurst stretched out its scoring in the third with a goal at beginning of the frame and two near the end. Jess Jones made it a 6-2 advantage when she beat Paige Thunder with just 2:34 elapsed. After that, nearly 14 minutes went by before sophomore Bailey Bram tickled the twine with her nation-leading 16th goal of the season and the team's 13th short-handed strike at 16:20. Sophomore Meghan Corbett closed out the game with a score at 17:41.

Mercyhurst outshot Minnesota State 39-23, including 20-6 in the second period, and went 2-for-7 on the power play. Minnesota State - Mankato finished 2-for-9 with the extra skater.  Sophomore Hillary Pattenden earned the win with 20 saves to improve to 16-1-1 on the season and 40-4-1 at Mercyhurst. Freshman Stephanie Ciampa played 3:40 and recorded one save.

The Lakers close out the 2010 Easton Hockey Showcase when they face host St. Cloud State on Sunday, Jan. 3, at the National Hockey Center.