University of Minnesota New No. 1 on USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Womens College Hockey Poll

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Minnesota took over the top spot on this week's USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll, following a win and tie against then-No. 1 University of Wisconsin this past weekend. For the third time this season, the Golden Gophers grabbed the No. 1 ranking, accumulating 189 points and 18-of-19 first-place votes.

The University of Wisconsin fell to No. 2 with 171 points and the remaining first-place vote, while the University of Minnesota Duluth (140) remained No. 3 following wins at Bemidji State University. Mercyhurst College (136) and the University of New Hampshire (108) remained in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively.

ABOUT THE POLL: The 12th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the American Hockey Coaches Association and USA Hockey Magazine, the most widely distributed hockey magazine in the world.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine
Women's College Hockey Poll - #19
(first-place votes in parentheses)

Rank	School	Last Week's Ranking	2008-09 Record	Weeks in Top 10
1	University of Minnesota, 189 (18)	2	24-3-3	19
2	University of Wisconsin, 171 (1)	1	24-2-4	19
3	University of Minnesota Duluth, 140	3	19-7-4	19
4	Mercyhurst College, 136	4	21-5-0	14
5	University of New Hampshire, 108	5	17-5-5	19
6	St. Lawrence University, 92	6	20-7-3	19
7	Boston College, 79	7	19-7-3	18
8	Dartmouth College, 66	8	16-6-2	19
9	University of Connecticut, 23	9	18-9-3	6
10	Wayne State University, 22	10	17-5-2	8