Alanna Sharman scored a hat trick as the Manitoba Bisons topped the University of Regina women's hockey team 3-1 at The Co-operators Centre on Friday night. Sharman scored once in the second period and twice in the final frame, including an empty net goal. Meghan Sherven scored her second of the season in a losing effort.

The first period went by without many chances for either team, as the opening 20 minutes passed with no score. The Cougars outshot the Bisons 10-8 in the frame, and each team killed a powerplay.

Regina struck first, nearly halfway through the second period. Nikki Watters-Matthes (pictured) brought the puck down the right wing, all the way behind the Bisons net from her defence position. She chipped it to Kelly Regnier who centred for Sherven. The fourth-year forward out of Wilcox, Sask. put the puck on net but Rachel Dyck made the initial save. The rebound bounced up in the air and Sherven batted it in to put the Cougars up 1-0.

The Bisons would even it up early in the third period, as Alana Serhan sent a long pass up the wing to Sharman. Sharman drove in hard towards the net and went crashing into Jane Kish but the puck found its way past the redshirt freshman and the score was evened at 1-1.

The Cougars had one minute and 41 seconds of 5-on-3 advantage right after the Bisons goal, but Dyck made save after save to keep the score even.

Sharman netted her second of the game with 5:19 left in the third to put the Bisons up 2-1. There was a lengthy scramble in the corner following a faceoff in the Cougars end, and the second-year forward eventually came away with the puck. Sharman faked like she was going behind the net and came back around, sliding the puck past Kish who had bitten on the fake and turned her head to the far side of the net. Serhan recorded her second assist of the night on the goal, and Karissa Kirkup also notched a helper.

The Cougars pulled Kish for the better part of the final two minutes, and Sharman netted an empty-netter with 36 seconds left to complete the hat trick.

Kish made 25 saves in her first Canada West start. Dyck stopped 28 shots as the Bisons improve to 2-1.

The Bisons and Cougars will battle again on Saturday afternoon, with puck drop scheduled for 3 p.m. at The Co-operators Centre.