A pair of University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey players, Ashton Bell and Clara Van Wieren, collected Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Month honrors presented by Sterling Trophy Thursday for their superior performances during the month of November.  Bell was named the WCHA's Defensive Player of the Month, while Van Wieren was selected the WCHA's Rookie of the Month.

Bell, a product of Deloraine, Manitoba recorded points in all four games she played in November.  The senior defenseman's current four-game scoring streak of three goals and five assists for eight points ties her for first in scoring among all NCAA players (and WCHA skaters) at every position.  Bell was named the WCHA's Defensive Player of the Week for Nov. 24 and has a 1.75 points per game average, as well as a 1.25 A/GP average -- both national highs..  Bell also ranks second nationally and first in the WCHA with a +7 plus/minus rating, and she posted two power-play points, including a goal and an assist last month.  This is Bell's first WCHA monthly honor.

A native of Okemos, Mich., Van Wieren is tied for fourth in the NCAA among all other freshmen with three points on two goals and one assists.  Van Wieren, named the WCHA's Rookie of the Week on Nov. 24, had a goal in both of her first two collegiate games -- she is the first rookie since Laura Fridfinnson during the 2007-08 season to score goals in her first two UMD games. The forward was also the only WCHA rookie have posted both a power play goal and a game-winning goal, and owns a league-high 0.75 points per game.  

The Bulldogs host St, Cloud State University this weekend at AMSOIL Arena in a Friday-Saturday series.  Game one gets underway Friday at 6:07 p.m.