The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s basketball team travels to Ottawa this weekend (Jan. 9-10) to take on the OUA East division leading Carleton Ravens and the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

As they hit the second half of the season, the Blues sit in a three-way tie with the Gee-Gees and Laurentian Voyageurs for second place in the OUA East, which increases the importance of these two must-have games.

Alaine Hutton (Hamilton, Ont.) is ranked second in OUA scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game and recorded her 1200th career point on November 28 in an 84-65 loss to the Brock Badgers.

First-year transfer students Nicki Shutz (Toronto) and Tara Kinnear (Kemptville, Ont.) have posted big numbers for the Blues, helping to build a 5-5 team record at the midway point of the season.

The Carleton Ravens are in first place of the East division with a 6-3 record. The Ravens went 2-1 at Concordia University’s women’s basketball tournament over the holiday break with wins over the UNB Varsity Reds and McGill Martletts. Tanya Perry (Barrie, Ont.) leads the Ravens, averaging 12.44 points per game thus far in regular season action.

The Blues last faced the Ravens in the 2007-08 OUA quarter-finals (Feb. 20, 2008) and came away with a 64-61 victory en route to winning their first OUA East title in seven years.

After going 3-19 in 2007-08, the Gee-Gees (5-4) are one of two teams tied with the Blues for second-place. Emilie Morasse (Quebec City, Que.) leads Ottawa with 114 points in nine games. The Gee-Gees will look to bounce back after going 1-3 in their last four games before the exam break.

Last season, Toronto dominated in both match-ups against Ottawa, outscoring the Gee-Gees by at least 25 points in each game.

The Blues will host the Gee-Gees and Ravens next month (Feb. 6-7) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Toronto is currently 4-1 at home in the 2008-09 regular season.