REGINA – The University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball team made life difficult for the Regina Cougars over two games.

A layup in the final minute by Regina's Jade Belmore helped the No. 1-ranked team earn a 56-53 decision and avoid a weekend sweep at home and salvage a split in Saturday's matchup at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

It was a low-scoring contest from the start, with Calgary leading 13-8 through one quarter before Regina came back to lead 27-22 at halftime.

The Cougars led 39-38 through three quarters, but Pollyanna Storie helped Calgary reel off a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter to put the Dinos up 53-47.

Storie's jumper and three-pointer on back-to-back possessions turned out to be Calgary's final points of the game. The Cougars scored the last nine points of the game, including a huge Zoe Hartmann triple that got the Cougars to within one and Belmore's layup which put them into the lead with just under a minute to go.

After a defensive stop for the Cougars, Belmore hit a pair of free throws and the Cougars survived a good look by Calgary at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime for the second consecutive night.

Storie and Mackenzie Trpcic led Calgary with 14 points each, while Belmore had another big performance with 29.

The Cougars improve to 15-3 with the victory and clinch home court in the first round of the post-season. 

Calgary sits at 11-7 on the season and remains in contention for home-court advantage in the opening weekend of the Canada West Playoffs.

The Dinos wrap up the regular season next weekend at home with their crosstown rival, the Mount Royal Cougars, visiting the Jack Simpson Gym for Crowchild Classic action. The Cougars will close out their Canada West schedule with two games at the MacEwan Griffins, Feb. 10-11.