OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Brendan Woods scored the game-winning goal late in the third period as Wisconsin beat Nebraska-Omaha 4-3 on Friday in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Woods' rebound goal broke a 3-3 tie between the Badgers (15-11-7, 11-7-7) and Mavericks (18-13-2, 14-9-3), who failed to make up ground in the WCHA race.

Michael Mersch had a goal and an assist for Wisconsin, which got 24 saves from goalie Joel Rumpel. Joseph LaBate and Mark Zengerle also scored for the Badgers.

WCHA scoring leader Ryan Walters had a goal for Nebraska-Omaha. He has points in 24 of the Mavericks' last 26 games. Bryce Aneloski and Andrej Sustr added goals for Nebraska-Omaha.

Nebraska-Omaha goalie Ryan Massa had 24 stops.