Pittsburgh, Pa. ? The Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team suffered a heartbreaker Saturday night as the Niagara Purple Eagles defeated the Colonials, 3-2, in overtime at the RMU Island Sports Center.

The Colonials fall to 11-16-1 overall and 1-5-0 in league play while Niagara snaps a 17-game winless streak to improve to 7-17-4 overall and earns their first CHA victory of the year.

After falling behind, 1-0, early in the game, Robert Morris regrouped with an impressive run that saw the Colonials unleash 11 shots to end the period.

Freshman Maria Stoa (Bloomington, Minn. / Eden Prairie) tied the game for RMU tipping a loose puck over the goal line with just 2:38 left in the first period. Freshman Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) and junior Morgan Beikirch (Livonia, N.Y. / Buffalo Bison) earned assists on the play.

RMU would go on to take its first and only lead of the game with a goal from junior Kristen Miles (London, Ontario / London Devillettes) early in the second period. Miles, who recovered her own rebound in front of the net, scored her third goal of the series at the 4:59 mark, while extending her goal-streak to five consecutive games. Freshman Kylie Rossler (Regina, Saskatchewan / Regina Rebels) and junior Kathryn Traynor (Toronto, Ontario / Toronto Jr. Aeroes) were accredited with the helpers.

Niagara battled back though late in the third period. Melanie Mills evened the game at 2-2 after a deflection that sailed over the head of RMU net-minder junior Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Oh. / Ohio Flames) with 2:29 remaining in regulation.

The Purple Eagles would turn the tables on RMU midway through the extra-time session. Niagara's Mary McKinnon capitalized on a power-play opportunity with a chip in near the left side of the cage, giving the team its first win since Nov. 17, 2007.

McLaughlin was sensational despite suffering the loss. The junior net-minder finished with 26 saves including a pair of glove saves from point blank range in the third period.

Niagara held the advantage in shots, 29-26, while converting, 1-6, on the power-play. RMU was 0-6 with the extra-man.

The Colonials have a tough task ahead of them this weekend when they travel to Detroit, Mich., to take on Wayne State in a College Hockey America series on Friday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 16. The Warriors are coming off an impressive series against Mercyhurst in which the team defeated the Lakers, 5-4, in overtime in game one and recorded a 2-2 tie in game two.