COLUMBUS, Ohio --- The University of North Dakota women's hockey team picked up a big three points in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings with a 5-2 win over Ohio State Saturday, salvaging a series split on the road.

Stephanie Ney (100 Mile House, British Columbia) led North Dakota in net concluding the game with 31 saves, including 16 in the third period. UND had five different goal scores in the game, led by a 3-point game by freshman Josefine Jakobsen (Aalborg, Denmark).

After a dismal first period in the series opener yesterday where UND fell into a hole it couldn't climb its way out of, North Dakota responded with a much stronger start in the finale.

Just under eight minutes into tonight's action UND believed it scored the game's first goal as Loken knocked in a rebound off a shot by Wiebe, shorthanded. The goal was reviewed and the referees determined the net was knocked loose.

UND didn't not allow it to let them lose focus though and continued to pressure. Jakobsen gave UND the lead it wouldn't relinquish under five minutes later, while Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) would add her 27th of the season on the power play to send the road team into the intermission with a 2-0 lead.

Seniors Kelsey Ketcher would knock in a rebound for UND's second power-play goal of the game and Alyssa Wiebe found the back of the net from just inside the blue line during the second frame to stretch the lead to 4-0.

The Buckeyes showed no quit in them though scoring a pair of goals to open the third period. Paige Semenza scored on shorthanded breakaway and Melissa Feste scored on scramble in front of the crease to cut the lead to 4-2 with over 10 minutes remaining.

Although getting outshot 18-10 in the final period, Mary Loken (Roseau, Minn.) would seal the win with her sixth goal of her junior campaign with under two minutes left in regulation.

It doesn't get any easier for UND who hosts Bemidji State next weekend in another critical series for both teams at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.