DETROIT - The Wayne State women's hockey team (8-9-3, 4-4-0 CHA) battled back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Robert Morris (5-17-1, 0-6-1 CHA), 3-2, on Saturday afternoon to sweep the weekend series.

After the Colonials scored a pair of 5-on-3 power-play goals less than 75 seconds apart in the second period, the Warriors responded with two goals in two minutes by Katrina Protopapas (Chatham, Ont./Bluewater Hawks) and Julie Ingratta (Markham, Ont./North American Hockey Academy).

The game-winner came on a short-handed goal by Veronique Laramee-Paquette (Mont-Tremblant, Que./Les Cheminots) at 6:45 of the third.

Delayne Brian (Winnipeg, Man./Notre Dame Hounds) improved to 5-3-2 on the year, totaling 27 saves and backstopping WSU to its second sweep of the season and first since Oct. 23-24 at Colgate.

With the two victories, the Warriors evened their conference record and moved into a three-way tie for second place in College Hockey America with Syracuse and Niagara.

After a scoreless first period - the second in as many days and the 12th for the Warriors this season - Kathleen MacDonald broke the deadlock at 6:22, putting in a rebound with assists from Brianna Delaney and Jacki Gibson.

Moments later, on yet another 5-on-3, Jamie Joslin's shot from beyond the right faceoff circle sailed past Brian to double RMU's lead.

Wayne State did not wait long to respond, as WSU's first scoring play began from the corner to the right of RMU goalie Daneca Butterfield. From that position, Alyssa Baldin (Mississauga, Ont./Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) passed the puck in front to Lauren Ragen (Grosse Ile, Mich./Connecticut Polar Bears), who followed with a backhand pass across to Protopapas for the quick shot.

It marked the 11th goal of the season and second of the series for Protopapas, while Baldin extended her point streak to five games.

A shot from Ingratta between the circles off a pass from Gina Buquet (Lafayette, La./Ohio Flames) found the back of the net at 13:11, making it a 2-2 game.

With just over 13 minutes to play in regulation, Laramee-Paquette blocked a shot at the blue line, and Micheline Frappier (Val Caron, Ont./Sudbury Lady Wolves) gathered the loose puck in the neutral zone before finding Laramee-Paquette streaking in past the RMU defense. The sophomore forward skated in alone on Butterfield and fired in a forehand on her blocker side for the eventual game-winner.

Butterfield was pulled for an extra attacker with 50 seconds remaining, but Wayne State held its ground to preserve its fifth-straight home win against Robert Morris dating back to February 2008.

Wayne State will travel to Quinnipiac next weekend for its final non-conference series of the season. The Warriors return home Jan. 29-30 for a pair of games against Syracuse. 

NOTES
Protopapas moved into a tie with Jessica Haydahl (2002-06) for seventh all-time at WSU in career goals (24) ... her nine power-play goals this season are tied for the national lead ... Laramee-Paquette's game-winner was the fourth of her career, tied for seventh-most in program history ... Wayne State is 18-2-0 all-time against Robert Morris.