CALGARY – The UBC Thunderbirds (8-15-1) hopes of a spot in the Canada West playoffs were dashed by a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Dinos (4-14-2) on the road on Saturday night at the Father David Bauer Arena.

The loss prevented the T-Birds from making up any ground on the Regina Cougars (7-9-6) who have now clinched the fourth and final playoff spot. 

Calgary jumped out to a 1-0 lead late in the first period on a goal from Shannon Davidson with just over three minutes left in the frame.

The Dinos extended that lead early in the second when Rebecca Niehaus tallied her team-leading sixth of the season at the 2:55 mark of the period to put the hosts ahead for good.

Alisha Choy pulled one back for the T-Birds with 17 seconds left in the second period on an unassisted effort, however, UBC couldn't solve Dino netminder Katie Urness over the final 20 minutes.

Urness made 24 saves in the win while her UBC counterpart, Melinda Choy, stopped 21 shots in the loss.