SASKATOON, Sask. — Donning special pink and white uniforms on Play for a Cure night, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies took the U SPORTS No. 5–ranked MRU Cougars to overtime but eventually fell 3–2 in the extra frame on Friday night (Jan. 16) at Merlis Belsher Place.

The loss drops Saskatchewan's record to 8-8-2, as the Huskies cling to a one-point lead over Manitoba for third place in the Canada West East Division. For MRU, the win improves the Cougars to 15-4-1, allowing them to maintain their hold on first place atop the East.

After the opening period ended in a scoreless draw, offence broke through for both sides in the second. Just over four minutes into the frame, the Cougars struck first when Kaia Borbandy netted the game's opening goal to give MRU the early advantage. Less than a minute later, MRU doubled its lead as Julia Duke skated in on a partial break and ripped a shot past the blocker of Colby Wilson. The Dogs responded just 18 seconds later, however, when a shot from Jaiyana Nurani snuck past Scout Anderson for the second-year engineering student's first goal of the season, cutting the Huskies' deficit in half.

After failing to capitalize on back-to-back power-play opportunities early in the third period, Saskatchewan eventually found the equalizer at even strength. Just past the eleven minute mark, Shelby Williamson rifled a seeing-eye shot from the top of the slot to tie the game 2-2. Despite two more power-play chances for the Dogs in the remaining minutes of regulation, the game remained deadlocked at the end of the third.

In overtime, the Cougars found the game-winner just 43 seconds into the extra frame, as Isa MacPhee cleaned up a loose puck in the crease for her second game-winning goal in as many games, securing the 3-2 victory.

The Huskies and Cougars will rest and reset for game two of the weekend series tomorrow night, with puck drop set for 5:00 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place.