The University of Regina women's hockey team pulled out a tightly-contested 1-0 win over the No. 2-ranked UBC Thunderbirds at The Co-operators Centre on Saturday night to earn a weekend split.

Tamara McVannel was the goal scorer for Regina, and Jane Kish made 13 saves for her first shutout of the season as the Cougars improve to 4-2-0-0.

After a scoreless first period the Cougars found themselves on the penalty kill to start the second. Regina killed off the first penalty but Shaelyn Vallotton took a hooking penalty to prevent a breakaway shortly after. The Cougars once again stood up to a potent UBC powerplay and were able to break the tie with an even strength goal from McVannel. Jaycee Magwood fed a pass back to the point and McVannel teed it up, beating a screened Amelia Boughn with a rocket to the blocker side.

The Cougars found the net again a few minutes later but the goal was waved off by the referees as it was ruled that Emma Coulter interfered with Boughn.

Regina had a number of opportunities to add an insurance marker after Logan Boyd took a hooking penalty midway through the third, but Boughn made a couple of impressive saves on rebound efforts from Jordan Kulbida and Merissa Zerr.

Magwood had a breakaway chance with under five minutes to play in the third, but a combination of a strong back check and a steady blocker from Boughn kept the Cougar lead at one. Lilla Carpenter-Boesch nearly put the game away in style with just over a minute left, stealing the puck from a UBC player and toe dragging around another defender before ringing a shot off the crossbar.

The Cougars were relentless in the third period and didn't allow UBC a chance to get back in the game, outshooting the visitors 12-3 in the final frame. 

Regina will hit the road next weekend for a two-game set against the first-place Alberta Pandas (4-1-0-1).