The No. 8 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team threw plenty of punches against Bemidji State University Saturday afternoon at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn., but unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they couldn't land a knockout.

The result was a 2-1 loss and a Beaver sweep of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series, the first by a BSU squad over UMD since Oct. 9-10, 2015. With the setback, UMD settles at 3-3-0 and 2-2-0 in league play, while BSU improves to 3-2-1 and 2-0-0 in the WCHA.

After Haley Mack scored two BSU goals at 4:39 (a power play tally) and 8:49 of the second period, UMD finally broke across the goal line in the third period.  Anneke Linser roofed the puck on an unassisted shot from the right of the Beaver net for her first goal of the season -- a goal that was initially called off in the run of play.  Video replay confirmed Linser did indeed hit the twine, and the Bulldogs cut BSU's lead in half at 5:31 of the final period

Despite missing one of its leading scorer, Gabbie Hughes, for the skate, UMD peppered the Beavers with 12 shots on goal to just four for BSU in the third period, helped by a five minute slashing penalty on Beaver Tina Kampa midway through the stanza.  But BSU goaltender Lauren Bench didn't budge, turning away 11 of the 12 shots she faced in the period and 28 in the game.

Maddie Rooney had 23 stops for the Bulldogs, who were 0-of-4 on the power play, while the Beavers scored on the lone man advantage they had.

UMD steps back out of WCHA action and travels to Buffalo, N.Y. next weekend for the Icebreaker Tournament.  The Bulldogs play Mercyhurst Friday at 4:30 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Sophomore forward Gabbie Hughes was a scratch prior to start of the game Saturday … UMD is now 74-20-7 all-time against the Beavers.