What's On Tap: Minnesota State women's hockey continues Western Collegiate Hockey Association play with a two-game series against No. 5 Ohio State this weekend at Verizon Center. Puck drop is slated for 6:07 p.m., on Friday and 2:07 p.m., on Saturday. 
 
Last Time on the Ice: The Mavericks (4-23-1, 2-18-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) split a two-game WCHA series with Bemidji State last weekend at Verizon Center. The Mavericks won 3-1 on Friday before dropping the series finale 5-3 on Saturday.

All-Time Maverick: Senior defenseman Anna Keys (1-6--7) moved into sole possession of third place in program history for points by a defenseman when she tallied an assist for her 34th career point at St. Cloud State on Jan. 6. With her three-point game, which included the game-winning goal and two assists, against Bemidji State on Friday, Keys increased her career point total to 37.  

Reaching 50: Senior forward Hannah Davidson (5-3--8) became the 18th student-athlete in program history to reach the 50-point plateau when she scored against Lindenwood on Dec. 9. With her goal against Bemidji State on Saturday, Davidson now has 52 career points (23-29--52) – the 16th most in program history.

Phenomenal Freshman: Freshman center Brittyn Fleming (4-13--17) is the Mavericks' team leader in both assists (13) and points (17). Fleming is the team leader in power-play points with five (1g-4a=5pts) in 2017-18. Fleming's 17 points this season have surpassed last season's team-high point total of 14, which was achieved by junior forward Emily Antony.  

Mighty McLaughlin: Junior forward Jordan McLaughlin's (8-6--14) eight goals, six assists and 14 points this season are all career bests. She leads the team in goals scored, game-winning goals (2) and empty-net goals (2), and she is second on the team in points. McLaughlin is a two-way player — leading all Minnesota State forwards in blocked shots (32). 
 
Power-Play Scoring Touch: Junior defenseman Megan Hinze (2-6--8) scored the Mavericks' first goal in their 3-1 win over Bemidji State. With the goal, which came on the power play, Hinze has scored seven of her eight collegiate goals on the power play. Both of her goals this season have come on the power play.
 
First Career Point: Freshman forward Mariah Gardner (0-1--1) tallied her first career point with an assist against Bemidji State on Saturday. Mariah Gardner's assist came on a goal scored by her sister – sophomore forward Demi Gardner (2-1--3). 
 
Multi-Goal Games: Tristen Truax (3-1--4) became the third Maverick to tally a multi-goal game in 2017-18 when she scored twice against No. 7 Minnesota on Jan. 26. The game was the first multi-goal performance of Truax's collegiate career. Junior forward Jordan McLaughlin (8-6--14) and senior forward Amanda Conway (4-2--6) have also recorded multi-goal games this season. McLaughlin and Conway each scored two goals at Lindenwood on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30, respectively.

Balanced Attack: Seventeen different Mavericks have scored a goal this season, including 13 who have scored at least two goals. Junior forward Jordan McLaughlin (8-6--14) leads the team with six goals and senior forward Hannah Davidson (5-3--8) is second with five.
 
Double Digits: Three Mavericks have garnered double-digit point totals this season. They are freshman forward Brittyn Fleming (4-13--17), and junior forwards Jordan McLaughlin (8-6--14) and Corbin Boyd (3-9--12).

Clogging the Shooting Lanes: The Mavericks lead the WCHA and are fifth in the nation with 435 blocked shots. The Mavericks' 15.54 blocked shots per game are the fourth most in NCAA DI. Senior defenseman Anna Keys is tied for ninth in the nation with 63 blocked shots. 
 
Minnesota State's season high for blocked shots is 33, which was achieved against then-No. 9 ranked Robert Morris on Oct. 7. The 33 blocked shots is the highest total by the Mavericks since they recorded 34 blocked shots at Wisconsin on Feb. 26, 2016.

Scouting Ohio State: The Buckeyes (19-7-4, 12-4-4-3 WCHA) are coming off a two-game WCHA sweep of then-No. 1 ranked Wisconsin last weekend. The Buckeyes won the first game 1-0 and the second game 3-1 in Columbus, Ohio.
 
The Ohio State offense features freshman forwards Emma Maltais (13-23--36) and Tatum Skaggs (19-14--33) are first and second in the WCHA with 36 and 33 points, respectively.
 
In net, Kassidy Sauvé is 17-7-4 with a 2.05 goals against average and .931 save percentage.
 
Skaggs, Maltais and Sauve are all reigning WCHA Players of the week for their roles in sweeping Wisconsin.  
 
Earlier this season, Minnesota State was swept in a two-game series against Ohio State on Nov. 10-11 at OSU Ice Rink. The Mavericks lost the series opener 2-1 and the series finale 5-3.
 
Looking Ahead: The Mavericks conclude the regular season with a two-game WCHA series against Minnesota Duluth at Verizon Center on Feb. 16-17.