The University of Regina women's hockey team battled hard but couldn't dig themselves out of an early three-goal deficit, eventually falling 5-3 to the hometown Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday.

Meghan Sherven, Bailey Braden and Caitlin Dempsey each scored for the Cougars in the loss. Hailey Tyndall, Leah Bohlken, Rachel Johnson, Julia Flinton and Marley Ervine scored for the Huskies.

Tyndall and Bohlken scored in the first period, and Johnson scored early in the second to build a three-goal lead for the home team. Sherven struck first for the Cougars, netting her fourth of the season off assists from Nikki Watters-Matthes and Alexis Larson (pictured).

Braden's first of the season came just 39 seconds later, thanks to helpers from Carleen Meszaros and Jaycee Magwood. The Huskies responded later in the second period with two goals of their own within two minutes of each other, restoring their three goal lead.

Dempsey notched her third goal of the Canada West season late in the second period on a penalty shot, but Cassidy Hendricks and the Huskies defence shut the door for the rest of the game.

Hendricks stopped 33 shots in the game, while Jane Kish made 26 saves in her second start of the season for the Cougars.

The two teams will face off again on Saturday, this time in Regina. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Co-operators Centre.