BEMIDJI, Minn. - University of Minnesota forward Grace Zumwinkle netted a hat trick to power the No. 4 Gophers past the Bemidji State University women's hockey team 6-1 in game one of their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.

Bemidji State freshman Taylor Nelson scored the lone goal for the Beavers at 16:34 of the second period for her second career goal while senior Clair DeGeorge and freshman Khloe Lund earned assists. For Lund, it was her first collegiate point.

Senior Kerigan Dowhy stopped 15 of 20 shots by the Gophers in 40 minutes of work while junior Lexi Baker came in the net for the third period and stopped five-of-six shots.

Minnesota got to an early start against Bemidji State by scoring three goals within the games' first 10 minutes. Minnesota then added a goal at 3:58 of the second before Nelson answered back at 16:34. However, Zumwinkle added her second goal just 1:20 later to go ahead 5-1. She the completed the hat trick at 12:59 of the third period to wrap-up the scoring.

Minnesota goaltender and former Bemidji State goaltender Lauren Bench earned the win between the pipes, her ninth of the season after stopping 15-of-16 shots and improves her record to 9-5-0 while Dowhy falls to 2-12-2.

Bemidji State earned three power plays during the game and went 0-for-3 with the extra skater while its penalty kill successfully killed off all two power plays by the Gophers.

Bemidji State and Minnesota will play the series finale tomorrow afternoon at 3:07 p.m.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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