The Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team made a statement Saturday night and are hoping it gives them a boost as they head towards the end of the season.

Entering Saturday's showdown with the defending CIS champions, the Western Mustangs, the Lakers had dropped three in a row, including a game the night before, but they stepped up in a big way.

Led by a 32-save performance by goalie Sabrina Picard and a two point night by forward Bronwyn Bolduc, the Lakers edged the Mustangs 3-2 to earn a weekend split and put themselves in third place in the OUA.

Bolduc had a big weekend, putting up four points, leading Nipissing offensively as the team split a pair of games on their long road trip to Southern Ontario.

Friday night against the Windsor Lancers, the Lakers played catch-up all night as they trailed early and were unable to mount a comeback.

The Lakers trailed 2-1 after the first, with Bolduc scoring the opening goal for Nipissing.

The second period was similar, with Windsor outscoring Nipissing 2-1, as Kaley Tienhaara scored late to keep the Lakers in the game.

Down 4-2 after 40 minutes, the teams traded third period goals, as Alexane Papineau found the back of the net, but it was too little, too late.

Entering a big game against Western, and having dropped their past three games (0-2-1), the Lakers turned in their most clutch effort of the season.

Nipissing scored first, as Tienhaara scored for the second straight game, notching her fifth goal of the season.

The Mustangs would answer with two straight goals, but Bolduc would score shorthanded to tie the game and Kaitlyn McManus potted what would be the game-winner before the midway mark of the second period.

Picard, who was making her first start since Oct. 9 stopped 32 shots, including 12 in the third period, to pick up the win.

The Lakers are now 10-5-4 and in third place, just two points behind Waterloo, but only one point ahead of Western.

The league is extremely tight this year, with just eight points separating the second place team from eighth spot.

Nipissing is back on home ice after a four game road trip and will look to secure a playoff spot as they host the York Lions and Brock Badgers.

First up is York, who will be in North Bay Friday night looking desperately to earn points, as they sit eight points out of the final playoff position.

Saturday, for Nipissing's Pink The Rink game, the Brock Badgers will be the competition. They're in a similar position as York, nine points out of the post-season and in need of wins.

The Lakers shutout both the Lions and Badgers early in the season, on the road, winning 3-0 in mid-October at York and 2-0 the next day against Brock.

It will be another tough test for the Lakers, who are in the hunt for home-ice in the playoffs, but coming off a big win, they should be able to harness some momentum.

Game time Friday night is 7 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, both at Memorial Gardens.