MADISON, Wis. — The top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey program hits the road to take on Bemidji State this Friday and Saturday for the second match-up between the teams this season. Friday's game is slated for 3 p.m. while Saturday's puck will drop at 2 p.m.

1. LAST TIME OUT: Wisconsin hosted Minnesota for the first Border Battle of the season last weekend. The Badgers fell to the Gophers 3-2 on Friday and tied Saturday's game 2-2. Casey O'Brien notched three goals with a pair during Saturday's game to lead the team.

2. LAST TIME AGAINST BSU: Wisconsin hosted Bemidji State during the first weekend of November. The teams tied the first game 0-0 and Wisconsin won the shootout thanks to a Dayl Watts goal. The Badgers won the second game 8-1 as Daryl Watts recorded her fourth collegiate hat trick and Caitlin Schneider put up two goals, her first multi-goal game as a Badger. 

3. LEADING PAIR: Casey O'Brien and Makenna Webster both lead the NCAA in points scored this season with 34 each over 18 games. O'Brien also leads the nation in goals scored with 19 and Webster is tied for second with 14. Webster is tied for the lead in assists with 20. The duo also is tied for the NCAA lead in plus/minus with a +29 rating while O'Brien also paces the country in game-winning tallies with five. 

4. BADGERS, BLUGOLDS AND BOOKS: The Badgers will be hosting the UW- Eau Claire Blugolds in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. on January 10. Instead of purchasing tickets, fans are being asked to bring a new or gently used children's book as a donation for entry to the game. The first 2,273 fans to arrive with a book will be admitted to the game. This is the first time Wisconsin will face a DIII opponent. Parking for this game will be free in Lot 91. 

5. WHAT A YEAR: This weekend marks the final series during the 2021 calendar year as the Badgers enter this week with a 31-3-3 record this year. 2021 saw the Badgers win their sixth NCAA championship and their ninth WCHA regular-season and tournament crowns. Daryl Watts was named a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and earned first-team All-America honors along with Grace Bowlby.