Feb. 9, 2010

STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team achieved its highest national ranking in program-history on Monday with the No. 7 spot in the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll. The Huskies are also seventh according to the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll, ranked for the fifth week in 2009-10.

The Huskies unbeaten streak was snapped at a program-tying 11 games on Sunday while Connecticut equaled the program-high for consecutive victories at nine games. UConn defeated Boston College 3-1 on Jan. 29 before falling to then No. 4 New Hampshire on Sunday.

Four Hockey East teams are among the nationally-ranked programs according to the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll, including last weekend's opponent, New Hampshire (sixth) as well as upcoming foe No. 8 Providence and No. 9 Northeastern. The 15 first-place votes were split among three teams including No. 1 Mercyhurst as well as Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth tied for second.

The Huskies with 47 votes were last ranked eighth according to the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports poll. UConn has been in the top10 for three-consecutive weeks.

The Huskies are one of four Hockey East teams ranked in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll with New Hampshire (No. 6), Northeastern (No. 8) and Providence (No. 9) being the other three teams.

UConn jumped up one spot from last week's poll, while being ranked in the well-respected poll for five weeks this season.

The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the four NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as votes from the officers of the American Hockey Coaches Association and USA Hockey Magazine. Fifteen voters, including 12 Division I coaches and three women's hockey writers, compile the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll.

UConn (18-7-5, 9-4-4-1) plays No. 8 Providence on Friday at 7 p.m. at Schneider Arena before hosting the Friars on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Huskies tied Providence earlier in the season in Storrs, losing the Hockey East shootout on Nov. 1. Entering the weekend, Connecticut is tied for second in the conference with Northeastern. Both teams have accrued 23 points while UConn has the same number of wins as league-leading Providence. The Friars are atop the conference standings with 24 points and a