WINNIPEG - A Tamara McVannel goal with 2:21 left in the first overtime was the lone marker on Saturday afternoon at Wayne Fleming Arena, as the Regina Cougars shut out the Manitoba Bisons 1-0. 

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in a physical first period. 

The Bisons' best opportunity came two minutes in, as captain Jordy Zacharias delivered an excellent behind the net pass to defenceman Megan Neduzak however she couldn't get a stick on it. 

Regina had trouble breaking through a tight Manitoba defence but generated a few turnovers that turned into chances. Their best chance came with eight minutes to go, as veteran Jaycee Magwood delivered a wrist shot into traffic, however Manitoba goaltender Eric Fargey kept with it for the stop. 

The best chance for both sides in the second period occurred on partial breakaways. 

The Cougars were first, as forward Martina Maskova intercepted a pass in the Regina zone and looked to be in the clear, however Zacharias did an excellent job rushing back to poke the puck away. 

Manitoba's open look occurred midway through the middle frame, as Sarah Dennehy found speedy line mate Kate Gregoire breaking down the right side. The freshman was able to beat Cougars goalie Jane Kish, but not the iron. 

"They know how to play with each other because they've done it in the past, and they feed off of each other," Bisons head coach Jon Rempel said postgame.

"I thought that they were our best line for sure."

The Bisons controlled play in the back half of the third period, including a power play with less than two minutes to go. Gregoire, Oswald, Dennehy and Emilie Masse all had excellent chances right on the doorstep on rebounds, however Kish stood her ground to send the game to overtime.

The Cougars went to the power play in four on four overtime and made no mistake, as McVannel went five-hole to end the contest. 

With the win, Regina advanced to 3-6-2 while Manitoba fell to 2-7-0-1. Next up for Manitoba is a home tilt against Saskatchewan while the Cougars will host Alberta.