Alex Rigsby stopped all 19 shots she faced, and No. 1-ranked Wisconsin extended its unbeaten streak to 23 games with a 3-0 victory over North Dakota in the first WCHA women's semifinal Friday at Ridder Arena.
North Dakota, making its first appearance in the WCHA Final Faceoff, held the Badgers (33-2-2) scoreless for a period, but Wisconsin struck three times in a 12-minute span of the second period by scoring even-strength (by Carolyne Prevost), shorthanded (by Brianna Decker) and on the power play (by Mallory Deluce).
Stephanie Ney stopped 31 shots for North Dakota (20-13-3), whose hold on an NCAA tournament berth is questionable. The Sioux are ranked eighth in the latest poll, and only eight teams -- three conference champions and five at-large teams -- will be invited to the tournament.
PHIL MILLER
