MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State women's hockey team has reached the home stretch of the regular season, literally and figuratively. They are set to wrap up the 2023-24 year with five-straight games on home ice. Starting Wednesday will be a date with Jamestown, followed by a weekend series with ACHA division two Assiniboine Community College.

The Beavers (15-10-0), who jumped to No. 4 in the previous ACHA rankings, will battle the 11^th-ranked Jamestown Jimmies (13-11-0) to complete the second of a two-game set that was postponed retroactive to January 13 and 14. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday. It is also the first of three games where the Beavers host Jamestown within this final stretch. The team will then face a quick turnaround when the Cougars from Assiniboine Community College (13-1-0) come to town for two games also set to take place at Maysa Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. (CT) on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. (CT) for a Sunday matinee.

Minot State continues to rack up wins against the Jimmies, as their previous matchup came last Wednesday in Jamestown. The Beavers took home a 4-1 win.

Jamestown was busy last week following their matchup with Minot State, as they took on the Minnesota Golden Gophers for a pair of home games during the weekend. In a series split, the Jimmies rebounded in the second game. They are coming off a 3-2 win in their last outing.

Assiniboine has been a dominant force at the division two level. The Cougars started the season winning 11 straight and remain at only one loss on the season. They will enter the weekend on a two-game winning streak. Their previous game was a 4-1 win over Sault College.

Jamestown likes to share the puck, as eight players sit in double figures as far as scoring goes. Crystal Wale leads the Jimmies in points with 17 along with nine goals. She is the player to watch from the road team going into tomorrow.

The Cougars are loaded offensively, with 10 players in double digit points. Two of them have already hit the 20-point mark. The one skater to be on the lookout for is Payton Malchuk, as she paces Assiniboine with 24 points including an astonishing 14 goals in her stat pile.

Looking at the netminders, Jamestown likes to deploy a tandem. Lilah Drew and Makenzie Gibson make up solid options for the Jimmies when protecting the net. Drew carries on a 3.20 goals-against average with a .914 save percentage. Gibson on the other hand has worked her way up to earn a 2.01 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.

Just like Jamestown, Assiniboine is all about keeping their goalies fresh. Payton Murray in eight games has been lights out with a 0.44 goals-against average and .969 save percentage. Right behind her with seven games played is Geneva Penner, who holds on to a 1.17 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.

Minot State also presents themselves with depth scoring. 11 players have reached the 10-point plateau or better. Paige Ackerman leads the way with 14. Taking charge in the goal scoring department is Krissy Rink, with a team-best eight goals heading into this week.

Haylie Biever continues to manage the crease strong since coming off injury. The starter keeps ahold of a 2.25 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Although, with three games in four days, it is possible Minot State may want to keep their goalies refreshed as well. If that is to be the case, Morgan Baker is more than capable in the backup spot. Her numbers feature a 1.29 goals-against average and .944 save percentage.

Tomorrow will feature the sixth meeting of the season for Minot State versus Jamestown. The Beavers are perfect so far with a 5-0-0 record through the five meetings prior. Minot has also taken all 14 games in the all-time series since Jamestown's inaugural season in 2022, and they have no plans of stopping.

As for Assiniboine Community College, this will be the first time the Beavers take on the Cougars under MSU Athletics affiliation. Furthermore, Minot State will be out to avenge their postseason and national championship losses versus Assiniboine back when the Beavers played at the ACHA division two level.

The home stretch is here for Minot State, as they will play in the comfort of their own arena and hometown fans for the last five games of the season. After the Beavers get done challenging Jamestown and Assiniboine, they will be back to wrap up the 2023-24 regular season versus the same Jamestown Jimmies on February 16 and 17.