What's On Tap:  The Minnesota State women's hockey team will put its four-game unbeaten streak on the line this weekend when it hosts No. 2 Wisconsin in both programs' regular-season finale. The two-game set begins Friday (7:07 p.m.) before senior day in Saturday's (3:07 p.m.) series finale.
 
Minnesota State (12-19-1, 7-18-1 WCHA) swept host and then-No. 4 North Dakota for the first time since Jan. 6-7, 2007 last weekend to move within two points of sixth place in the conference. Wisconsin (23-5-2, 19-5-2 WCHA) comes to Mankato having already secured second in the league despite being swept in Madison by No. 1 Minnesota a week ago, snapping a seven-game win streak.
 
Last Time on the Ice:  Minnesota State outscored UND two-to-one in each of the first two periods last Saturday to walk away with a 4-2 victory in the series opener. Sophomore Katie Johnson (Anoka, Minn.) and junior Shelby Moteyunas (Cicero, N.Y.) both scored even strength markers in the first period. The second stanza saw senior Nicole Germaine (Mississauga, Ont.) score on a pretty back-handed chance on the power-play before senior Lauren Barnes (Burnsville, Minn.) used a wrap-around to regain a two-goal lead MSU would not relinquish. Senior Danielle Butters (London, Ont.) amassed 45 saves, three shy of her career-high, with 23 in the final period to backstop MSU to a win.
 
Last Sunday's series finale had UND leading 1-0 entering the third period. The MSU power-play pulled the Mavericks even when Barnes found senior Kari Lundberg (Woodbury, Minn.) on the backdoor from the top of the right circle for an easy one-timer into the left side. With 3:30 remaining, senior Tracy McCann (Lakewood, Ohio) drove the net, before Germaine streaked in and tapped the rebound across the line for her second game-winner of the weekend, securing the sweep. Butters was outstanding once again stopping 40 of the 41 shots she faced.
 
Scouting the Badgers:  Wisconsin stands 23-5-2 overall and 19-5-2 in the WCHA after dropping a pair of home decisions to top-ranked Minnesota, 3-2 and 4-0, last weekend. Offensively, UW averages 3.17 goals and 34.6 shots per game while allowing a mere 1.17 goals and 23.8 shots per game to its opponents. The Badger power-play owns a 26.0% (27/104) conversion rate, and the penalty-kill holds a 91.6% (76/83) success rate.
 
Head coach Mark Johnson is in his 10th season leading the Badgers and has amassed a 303-51-28 career record with four national championships.  Senior Brittany Ammerman (F, 5-6, River Vale, N.J.) continues to pace Wisconsin in goals and points with 21-17=38 to date including eight power-play markers and five game-winners. Junior Blayre Turnbull (F, 5-7, Stellarton, N. S.) is right behind with 14-17=31, while sophomore Courtney Burke (D, 5-9, Albany, N.Y.) leads the squad in assists (20) and leads all blue-liners in points (23). Freshman Sarah Nurse (F, 5-8, Hamilton, Ont.) has also generated double-digit goals and sits fourth in points with 10-8=18 thus far. In goal, senior Alex Rigsby (G, 5-7, Delafield, Wis.) owns an outstanding .948 saves percentage and 1.22 goals against average with five shutouts in 20 starts.
 
Inside the MSU-UW Series: Minnesota State stands 1-58-3  all-time against Wisconsin after dropping a pair of road contests with the Badgers back in October by counts of 3-0 and 5-1. A season ago at home, MSU tied Wisconsin 2-2 before being edged, 3-2, in the series finale.
 
Minnesota State All-Time: The MSU women's hockey program - started in 1998-99 - is currently in its 16th season of competition and has compiled a 157-355-47 (.322) record in 559 total games played.  The Mavericks are in their 15th year as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold an 89-270-39 (.271) mark in 398 league contests.

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