BEMIDJI, Minn. — The top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team scored four times in the opening frame en route to a 5-1 triumph against Bemidji State at the Sanford Center on Friday afternoon. 

Four different Badgers (16-1-1, 12-1-1-1) scored as Daryl Watts scored twice while Makenna Webster, Sarah Wozniewicz and Maddi Wheeler also scored in the victory over the Beavers (6-9-2, 3-9-2).

Wisconsin scored four goals on 15 shots in the first period. Webster put up the first goal of the game halfway through the frame. Watts, Wozniewicz and Wheeler all scored in a five minute period to end the first and send the Badgers into the second up 4-0 over the Beavers.

After giving up a power-play goal early on in the second, Watts put up her second goal to give Wisconsin a 5-1 edge heading into the final frame.

UW also controlled play in the final frame, but were unable to add to their lead.

Kennedy Blair stopped 18 of the 19 shots she faced to earn her 14th win of the season. 

Three Notes of the Game

• The Badgers dominated play, outshooting BSU 54-19, including a 21-4 advantage in the middle frame.

• After her two goals today, Watts has 270 career points and 121 career goals, moving into seventh place in NCAA history for career goals. 

• Nicole LaMantia and Chayla Edwards each had two assists on the afternoon. 

Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Mark Johnson
On today's game:
"We sprung a couple people, created a couple opportunities, got the puck in the back of the net. Especially after the first one, we started to play better. I thought the last 40 minutes was an example of what we're capable of doing when we're working hard, taking care of the puck and forechecking aggressively. I was really pleased with the last two periods."

On bringing the energy into tomorrow:
"We have to build off what we did well today and put it into tomorrow's game. We need to come out tomorrow's first period and play like we did those last two periods and try to create some more opportunities. The only difference is we need to try and get some more pucks behind the net."

Senior Daryl Watts
On today's play:
"We put a lot of pucks in the net in the first period which was great, and we kept the pucks out of our net for the most part."

On coming out strong to start:
"We always try to come out as fast as we can, with as much energy and try to get shots on net. Today we were the most successful we've been at doing that."

Up Next: The Badgers close out the 2021 calendar year with a 2 p.m. tilt on Saturday at Bemidji State. Fans can watch the game live on B1G+.