MINNEAPOLIS – The top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team suffered a 2-1 setback at No. 5 Minnesota on Friday at Ridder Arena. 

Wisconsin (18-2-3, 13-2-2-0-2 WCHA) outshot Minnesota (18-6-1, 13-5-1 WCHA) 41-22 but was unable to earn the Border Battle victory. 

The first period was quiet as neither team was able to score. The Gophers put the Badgers on the power play twice and Wisconsin outshot them 11-9.

The Gophers put up a goal in the second to get a 1-0 edge over the Badgers.

In the third period, Minnesota took a five-minute major and Watts scored a goal less than five minutes into the power play.

However, Minnesota scored on a rush with 2:34 left in the third to take the opening game of the Border Battle. 

Three Notes of the Game
- Daryl Watts earned her 275th career point on her third-period goal. She became the sixth player to reach that milestone. 
- Casey O'Brien earned an assist on Watts' goal and now has 49 career points. 
- It marked UW's first non-exhibition game since a 1-1 tie against No. 4 Quinnipiac on Jan. 2

Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Mark Johnson
On the game:
"It was a good game, I thought both teams played well. I was happy with our performance, I thought we competed well. The only thing that we could've done better was the power plays we had in the first period where we didn't look very good and they weren't very good. Overall I thought the effort was good."

On what to improve for Saturday:
"Just try to get some more pucks behind their goaltender. We have to come out with the same energy and compete at the same level. We should be able to get some chances."

Up Next: Wisconsin faces Minnesota again on Saturday. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m at Ridder Arena. Fans can stream the game on B1G+ or listen on 100.9 FM as Reid Magnum has the call.