ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women's hockey team (3-18-1) dropped its final game of the 2016 calendar year, 5-1 to visiting Bemidji State University (8-11-1) from the Gene Polisseni Center on Saturday afternoon.

Kathryn Kennedy (Hamilton, Ontario) would score RIT's lone goal with 6:52 left in regulation off a feed from Jade Mancini (Burlington, Ontario/Bishop Tonnos). Jenna de Jonge (Abbotsford, British Columbia/George Elliot) started in net and made 15 saves on 18 shots before being pulled early in the second period in favor of Terra Lanteigne (Hatchet Lake, Nova Scotia/Charles P. Allen). Lanteigne would make 25 saves on 27 shots over the final 37:08.

Abby Halluska led the Beavers with a goal and two assists. Lisa Laiti dished out three assists, while Haley Mack added a goal and an assist. Emily Bergland, Jacueline Kassa, and Lauren Miller would also score. In net, Brittani Mowat made 23 saves.

Bemidji State out-shot RIT, 45-24. The Beavers were 2-for-7 with on the power-play, while RIT was 0-for-6.

"Bemidji State is a very good team and they showed it today," said Bruce B. Bates Women's Hockey Coach Scott McDonald. "We will take the break to get ready for our final 12 league games in 2017."

Bemidji State would lead 1-0 after the opening period, holding a 16-9 edge in shots. The Beavers would get on the board with a power-play goal 10:22 into the game, as Mack would score her first collegiate goal, sweeping in a loose puck off a scramble in front. Halluska and Laiti assisted on the goal.

RIT would have its chances, firing seven shots on three power-play opportunities, but could not solve Mowat. Mackenzie Stone (Kars, Ontario/South Carleton) had RIT's best chance on a rebound chance in front after Mowat stopped Lindsay Stenason (Oakville, Ontario/Appleby College)'s original shot. Stone tried to chip the rebound over Mowat, but the Bemidji State goaltender stood her ground to make the save.

The Beavers would score two goals in a span of 22 seconds early in the second period to break open a close game. At the 2:30 mark, Kassa would fire a puck in off a sliding RIT defender on a 2-on-1 rush to make it 2-0. Just 22 seconds later, Miller roofed a backhander over de Jonge from in close on a 2-on-1 rush to give the Beavers a 3-0 lead.

Lanteigne would replace de Jonge after Miller's goal and excel the rest of the period, stopping all 15 shots sent her way.

Bergland made it 4-0 Beavers 4:22 into the on a backhand from the slot.

Kennedy would get RIT on the board with 6:52 left, banking in a wrap around attempt for her fourth goal of the season. Mancini caused a turnover behind the net and fed a pass to Kennedy, who did the rest.

The Beavers would close out the scoring on a power-play with 4:02 left, when Halluska tallied for her third point of the afternoon.

Yesterday, Bemidji State defeated RIT, 3-1. Emily Bergland scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Beavers, while Claudia Black (Newmarket, Ontario/St. Maximilian Kobe) scored RIT's goal and de Jonge made 35 saves in net.

The Tigers have wrapped up their regular season non-conference schedule. The Tigers will play their final 12 contests against College Hockey America foes.

RIT is off until Jan. 13-14, 2017, when they head to Mercyhurst University for a pair of College Hockey America contests.