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ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University women's hockey team looks to tame the Nittany Lions and extend their unbeaten streak against Penn State in a two-game home series over the weekend.

Penn State (3-12-2; 1-7-0 CHA) will face-off against the Lakers (10-5-2; 3-2-1 CHA) on Friday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The series will conclude on Saturday, December 7 during Mercyhurst's annual "Pink the Rink" event beginning at 2:00 p.m. Mercyhurst is currently in third placve heading into the weekend while Penn State is in sixth.

The Lakers annual "Pink the Rink" event will include the Lakers wearing their pink jerseys in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. The Lakers have teamed up with the "Linked by Pink" Erie community and will present the ladies with a check before the start of the contest. In raising awareness, the Lakers will be selling their game-worn jerseys for $100 as well as donating all gate money, 50/50 and chuck a puck money to "Linked by Pink".

Against Penn State, the Lakers are 4-0-0 since Penn State has joined the College Hockey America conference at the start of the 2012-13 season. In the four game series, the Lakers have outshot the Nittany Lions 21 to four including the Lakers 7-1 win at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on December 1, 2012.

Senior Christine Bestland compiled the most points against Penn State last season after notching 11 points on seven goals and four assists. Bestland has tallied her first collegiate hat trick on February 1, 2013 against the Nittany Lions. Sophomore Molly Byrne also had a spectacular series as she added seven points in the defensive position while junior Shelby Bram contributed five.

The Lakers captured their second series sweep of the season against St. Lawrence during their only mid-week series of the season. Mercyhurst posted a 3-2 win in both contests to cut chase of the lifetime series to 12-13-2 against the Saints. The Lakers also improved to 5-1-1 on home ice and have captured their first win after trailing after two periods in the season during the victory on Friday.

In the last four contests, the Lakers have had games decided by one goal with Mercyhurst taking over the edge 4-1. Senior Christie Cicero and sophomore Kathy Donohue have been a big part of the Lakers success as both players marked game-winning goals against St. Lawrence. Cicero marked four points on three goals and an assist on Donohue's game-winner on Saturday. Donohue added two goals, one in each contest.

Sophomore Jenna Dingeldein has also contributed to the Lakers success as she has collected three assists in the last four contests. Dingeldein is fifth on the team in points on five goals and seven assists, with all seven helpers have been notched in the last six contests.

Senior Christine Bestland is approaching her 200 career point milestons with just five points remaining. Bestland will be just the fifth player in program history to achieve this accomplishment. In the season, Bestland is at 23 points on seven goals and 16 assists. Cicero is also approaching the century mark as she needs 20 more points while Byrne needs 24.

Penn State was on a ten game losing streak before the Nittany Lions captured their first win on November 23 against CHA member Lindenwood. Heading into the weekend, Penn State is on a two game unbeaten streak (1-0-1) after tying with Maine last weekend. On the road, the Nittany Lions are 2-5-1 and have traveled in the last four of the five contests played. Shannon Yoxheimer leads the team with 11 points on the season with five goals and six assists while Taylor Gross has 10 points and leads her team with five goals.