Madison, Wis. - The top-ranked Gophers women's hockey team clinched a regular-season WCHA title by beating second-ranked Wisconsin 3-2 on Friday night at LaBahn Arena.
Freshman Dani Cameranesi's 16th goal of the season and fourth game-winner, at 9:02 of the third period, broke a 2-2 tie. Rachael Bona and Milica McMillen also scored for the Gophers early in the second and third periods while Amanda Leveille had 21 saves.
The victory extended Minnesota's unbeaten streak to 17 games (16-0-1) and ended the Badgers' winning streak at seven. It also was the Gophers ninth win in a row in the border series and their 43rd consecutive road victory.
The Gophers (29-1-1, 23-1-1 WCHA) have 70 points in the conference standings. Wisconsin (23-4-2, 19-4-2-1) stayed at 60 with only three games (for a maximum of nine points) left.
The Gophers beat the Badgers 2-1 and 2-0 in a mid-October series at Ridder Arena and this game was close as well.
Brittany Ammerman gave Wisconsin a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal in the middle of the opening period. Bona got her 20th goal of the season at 5:44 of the second, unassisted, to tie the score.
McMillen's power-play goal at 3:37 of the third gave the Gophers a short-lived lead. Blayre Turnbull answered for the Badgers 1:41 later.
Rachel Ramsey and Bethany Brausen had assists on Cameranesi's winner.