Providence, R.I. ? The Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team reached the .500 mark for the first time this season as the Colonials defeated the Brown University Bears, 4-2, at the Meehan Auditorium this afternoon.

Behind a four assist performance from sophomore Jacki Gibson (Burlington, Ontario / Burlington Barracudas), the Colonials (7-7-1) exploded for three goals in the second period and never looked back.

It wasn't all smiles though early on, as Brown jumped out to a 1-0 lead late in the first period. The Bears capitalized on a five-on-three power-play when Erica Kromm scored her first goal of the year at 17:47.

The one-goal deficit was quickly erased as junior Kristen Miles (London, Ontario / London Devillettes), freshman Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prairie) and freshman Kylie Rossler (Regina, Saskatchewan / Regina Rebels) opened up the second period with three unanswered goals in the span of five minutes.

Miles started the frenzy off, tying the game at 1-1 with a deflection on the power-play at 6:51. Gibson and junior Megan Picinic (Cliffside Park, N.J. / Princeton Tigerlillies) were accredited for setting up the score.

Stoa gave RMU the 2-1 lead on almost the same exact play at 8:42, while Rossler pushed the advantage to two on yet another deflection on the power-play at 11:34. Sophomore Mallory Giambra (Rochester, N.Y. / Rochester Edge) was given an assist on both goals.

Brown would not go away that easy as Rylee Olewinski brought Bears within one thanks to a second power-play goal at 16:17, but it would prove to be too little, as the Colonials' offense was not finished.

Later in the third period, Picinic would put the icing on the cake as she knocked in a rebound after crashing the cage for her third goal of the season and the Colonials' fourth of the game at 14:57.

Junior Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Oh. / Ohio Flames) earned her fifth victory of the season, making 24 saves in goal.

The Colonial offense tied the Bears in shots with 26, while the power-play unit went two-for-eight compared to Brown's two-for-six.

Robert Morris looks to get over the .500 mark for the first in school history this Sunday as the Colonials take on Providence at the Schneider Arena in Providence, R.I. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.