MANKATO, Minn.--- Minnesota State (10-19-0, 4-18-0 WCHA) will host top-ranked Ohio State (24-2-0, 21-1-0 WCHA) to kick off a five-game homestand at the Mayo Clinic HSES. The Mavericks will look to snap a seven-game losing streak when they hit the ice at 6 p.m. Friday. 

Last Time Out:
No. 7 Minnesota Duluth swept Minnesota State in finals 3-0 and 2-1 at AMSOIL Arena.

On Friday, the Mavericks were shut out as UMD dominated offensive time of possession leading to a shot margin of 34-16 favoring the Bulldogs. Minnesota Duluth was able to capitalize on the power play to open the scoring while adding a late tally at the end of the opening period.

The Bulldogs' special teams registered two power play markers again providing the difference in Saturday's matchup.

UMD held a two-goal margin through the third period until senior Sydney Langseth notched her twelfth of the year in the dying seconds of the final period. on the play, senior Jamie Nelson (8) and freshman Jenessa Gazdik (2) collected helpers on the play.

The Bulldogs lead the Mavericks in overall shots-on-goal 67-45 over the weekend. Minnesota State, however, outshot UMD 19-14 in third periods while tying UMD in goals 1-1 in third-period play.

Taking on OSU:  
Ohio State (24-2-0, 21-1-0 WCHA) sits atop the WCHA in front of No. 2 Wisconsin holding a seven-point margin with 61 conference points. OSU leads all Division I Women's Hockey in winning percentage (.923) recording the few losses on the season of any team.

The Buckeyes possess the second scoring margin in the nation beating opponents by an average of 3.73 goals per game. Colgate leads the nation with a 3.77 scoring margin while MSU has accumulated a -0.45 margin on the season.

Seniors Hannah Bilka and Jennifer Gardiner are fueling the OSU offense, who have both eclipsed the 30-point plateau this season. Additionally, seven other Buckeye members have reached the 20-point plateau including OSU's leading goal-scorer freshman Joy Dunne (15).

All five players on the ice are a consistent scoring threat for the Buckeyes. OSU is ranked fifth in the nation for defensive scoring averaging 1.54 goals per game courtesy of the Buckeyes blue line.

OSU is ranked outside the top 10 in penalty killing (20th - .842 pct.)  nationally due to aggressive offensive rushes while short-handed. Senior Jenna Buglioni is ranked third in the nation for short-handed goals registering more goals on the penalty kill (5) than in even strength (4).

Ohio State has relied on its elite goaltending from seniors Raygan Kirk and Amanda Thiele who have combined for a 1.30 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Kirk has stolen the show in between the pipes sitting second in the nation in goalie winning percentage (.929), goals against average (1.09), tied for third in shutouts (5), and seventh in save percentage (.944).