DULUTH, Minn. -- Wisconsin forward Brianna Decker has earned the 2012 Patty Kazmaier Award, given annually to the top female hockey player in the nation.
The Dousman, Wis., native is the fourth Badger to win the award, joining Sara Bauer (2006), Jessie Vetter (2009) and Meghan Duggan (2011).
Selection criteria for the Patty Kazmaier Award includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.
Decker leads the nation in goals with 37 and is tied for the national lead in points with 82. Earlier this year, she set the program's record for longest scoring streak, at 32 consecutive games, recording at least one point in every game between Feb. 11, 2011 and Jan. 6, 2012. Decker sits fourth all-time at UW with 189 career points.
The Badgers defeated Boston College, 6-2, in the 2012 NCAA Women's Frozen Four semifinal round Friday. Wisconsin will take on Minnesota in the national championship game at 3 p.m. (CT) Sunday.
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey each season.
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman for Princeton University from 1981-86. Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died on Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.
