University of North Dakota Athletics

DETROIT, Mich.--The Fighting Sioux women's hockey team closed out the 2002-03 regular season with a 7-2 win over Wayne State this afternoon at the City Sports Center Arena. The win capped a two-game sweep over the Warriors, UND's first road sweep in the program's young history.

UND's season-ending win was keyed by the team's three juniors. Defenseman Abbey Strong (Jr., Houghton, Mich.) notched a season high three points with two goals and an assist, while captain Sherrie White (Jr., Neepawa, Man.) added a goal and two assists. Stasia Bakhit (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) added a pair of goals.

Strong opened the scoring with an unassisted effort just 4:55 into the first period, then scored her second straight goal 35 seconds later.

An Anne Girtz (Fr., Shoreview, Minn.) shorthanded goal 8:20 into the second period made it 3-0, but the Warriors got on the board at 14:31 of the middle frame. WSU closed the gap to one goal just 58 seconds into the third period but would come no closer.

UND sealed the game with a four-goal outburst in the final 14:45 of the game. Natasha Holt (Fr., St. Paul, Minn.) and White struck for power play goals, while Bakhit rounded out the scoring with her pair of goals late in the game.

Tawni Hauser (Fr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) picked up her first career point with an assist on Bakhit's second goal.

Amber Hasbargen (Fr., Warroad, Minn.) made 16 saves to earn the win, improving to 9-8-2. Anna VanderMarliere took the loss for WSU despite making 31 saves. Tina Thibideau mopped up with five saves in the final 6:32.

UND will finish its schedule with an exhibition game at home against the University of Winnipeg of Feb. 23.