MINOT, N.D. – Another battle of Top-5 teams hits the ice at the Maysa Arena this weekend as the Minot State women's hockey team returns to action with a huge series.

The fifth-ranked Beavers host the second-ranked Adrian Bulldogs in for two games with puck drop at 3:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 6 and 7.

A big battle between two of the ACHA Division I's top teams, teams that split a three-game series last season with the Bulldogs twice winning 3-1 and Minot State grabbing a 2-0 victory to wrap up the series.

In that Beaver victory, Minot State goalie Haylie Biever made 41 saves to lead the way.

This season, Biever has been one of three standouts in goal for Minot State with three wins and a shutout in five games, while Jordan Ivanco – the Beavers career shutout leader (16) - has four wins and two shutouts in seven games, and freshman Hali Lawrence has added four wins in four games and a shutout.

Balance, which is key for the Beavers (11-4-1 overall) all over the ice as Minot State is led offensively by senior forward Megan Norris with seven goals and 14 assists, senior forward Jordan Kulbida with 11 goals and seven assists, and senior defenseman Anna German with three goals and 13 assists.

The Beavers host an Adrian team equally balanced, and also an offensive powerhouse as the Bulldogs (14-3-0) have netted 99 goals this season and are led by six 20-point or better players.

Freshman forward Ashlynn Stitt leads the team in goals and points with 13 goals and 16 assists, while sophomore forward Tess McKerrow has eight goals and a team-high 19 assists.

Sophomore forward Hailey Wiltshire adds in seven goals and 16 assists, forward and graduate student Erika McDonald has six goals and 17 assists, senior forward Gabrielle Jex adds 11 goals and nine assists, and sophomore defenseman Allison Shaw has four goals and 16 assists for that power-packed attack.

And leading the way in goal is freshman Judith Schneider who has two shutouts and seven wins in nine games with a 1.68 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.

The pair of home games for the Beavers are the first of five straight at Maysa Arena to start the new calendar year for Minot State, which hosts No. 4-ranked Indiana Tech next weekend, then entertains in-state foe and ACHA Division II Dakota College of Bottineau on Jan. 20.