GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- The University of North Dakota picked up a much needed win Friday at the Ralph Engelstad Arena over No. 7 Wisconsin, 3-0.
Freshman Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Warroad, Minn.) backstopped UND to the win with her first career shutout stopping all 19 shots faced.
Senior Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) led the offensive charge with two goals and an assist while freshman Meghan Dufault had a pair off assists.
North Dakota improves to 14-9-0 (9-8-0-0 WCHA) while the Badgers drop to 14-7-2 (10-7-2-2 WCHA).
In nearly a must win situation in its hopes of keeping an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament alive, UND was looking for a quick start in today's game and jumped out to an early lead when Lamoureux scored at the 12:03 mark of the opening stanza.
Crashing the net hard, Lamoureux was able to stuff the puck past Badger netminder Alex Rigsby through the five-hole as UND scored the first goal in a game for the 15th time in 23 games on the year.
In a defensive battle the rest of the way, UND limited Wisconsin to only 19 shots on goal and pulled away in the third period keeping the pressure in the Badgers zone with 15 shots for a game total of 30.
Rigsby made a couple brilliant saves to keep the game within reach, but Lamoureux would tally her second of the game and team-leading 25th of the campaign with a only 2:37 left in regulation.
After holding UND's high-powered power play scoreless through the first 59 minutes, Michelle Karvinen (Rodovre, Denmark) would extend her team-leading point streak to 12 games (13 including last season) and secure the win with her eighth goal of the season at 19:06.
Dufault was dynamic in the third period creating opportunities and set up both the third period goals with the primary assists.
North Dakota's penalty-kill went 5-for-5 in the game while converting 1-of-4 chances on the power play.
UND's win over Wisconsin ends 10-game winless streak against the Badgers and will look for its first sweep over the Badgers Saturday with an opening face-off set for 7:07 p.m.
