MANKATO, Minn.--- Minnesota State (10-15-0, 4-14-0 WCHA) will take on No. 5 Minnesota (18-5-1, 12-5-1 WCHA) for its third home-and-home series of the season. Action on Friday is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. from Ridder Arena and 2 p.m. on Saturday from the Mayo Clinic HSEC. 

Last Time Out:
Minnesota State was swept by No. 2 Wisconsin in finals of 3-2 and 7-2 this past weekend at the Mayo Clinic HSEC. The last time the Mavericks were swept on home ice came against St. Cloud State on October 27-28th.

On Friday, The Mavericks were able to capitalize on a UW misplay on the power play late in the opening period. Senior Jamie Nelson lifted a rocket over the shoulder of goaltender Jane Gervais for her team-leading 13th goal on the season and her first career shorthanded tally as Minnesota State took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Just 50 seconds into the second period, sophomore Whitney Tuttle ripped a shot off the Wisconsin goaltender creating a rebound for sophomore Taylor Otremba to hammer home her sixth goal on the season. On the play, senior Sydney Langseth notched her team-leading 15th assist and 25th point on the season.

The Badgers would answer back with two goals in the second period to knot the game at two before  Kirsten Simms scored the game-winner at the 6:12 mark of the third period.

On Saturday, both teams capitalized on scoring opportunities seeing three goals scored in under three minutes to start regulation. After Wisconsin notched two goals in the first two minutes, the Mavericks top-line duo responded.

On an odd-man rush off the faceoff following UW's second tally, sophomore Whitney Tuttle stole the puck who rocketed a pass that connected with senior Sydney Langseth for her eleventh goal on the season.

After falling into a two-goal hole in the second period, Minnesota State's fourth line answered the call as freshman Lauren Zawoyski found fellow freshman Kamryn Van Batavia in the slot from behind the net for her third career goal in the purple and gold. On the play, freshman Ava Guillemette notched her third assist.

The Badgers jumped on the Mavericks finding the back of the net three times while outshooting Minnesota State 12-6 in the final 20 minutes to complete their sweep.

Taking on UM:  
Minnesota (18-5-1, 12-5-1 WCHA) is four points behind second-ranked Wisconsin for second place in the WCHA. The Gophers' only losses this season are from WCHA opponents Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Minnesota possesses one of the top power play threats and penalty-killing units in DI Women's Hockey. Nationally, the Gophers own the second-best power-play percentage (.358) behind Colgate with 24 power-play goals and rank sixth nationally in penalty-killing percentage (.904) which is second in the WCHA behind Minnesota Duluth's .910.

MSU is tied with Franklin Pierce at 25th in the nation with a .152 power-play percentage and ranked 31st in penalty-killing percentage (.776).

Headlining the Gophers' offense is junior Abby Murphy with a supporting cast of juniors Peyton Hemp, Ella Huber, and sophomore Josefin Bouveng who have all achieved the 20-point mark this season. Murphy leads the team in goals and points while registering a plus-20 on the season. Consequently, Murphy's aggressive play has landed her in the penalty box 29 times for 72 minutes through 24 games which leads all DI Women's hockey.  

Minnesota has relied on its elite goaltending from Senior Lucy Morgan and Junior Skylar Vetter who combine for a 1.99 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. Among WCHA Rankings, Morgan is currently fourth in goals-against average (1.66) and seventh in save percentage (.934).