The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s basketball team closed out their 2008-09 regular season with a 66-63 victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs on Saturday, February 14 at Ben Avery Gym.

With the win, the Varsity Blues finish atop the OUA East standings with a 17-5 record and will host an OUA quarter-final game on Saturday, February 21, against the lowest remaining seed after the first OUA playoff round (Feb. 18).

Both teams struggled in the opening quarter, unable to find the touch around the basket. It wasn’t until Sherri Pierce (Brampton, Ont.) dropped two of her game-high 15 points with a layup over Darrah Bumstead (New Hamburg, Ont.) that the Blues offence finally ignited.

Toronto went on to score 12 unanswered points, leaving Laurentian pointless until the 1:29 mark, and held a comfortable 16-2 lead after the first quarter.

The Voyageurs picked it up in the second quarter, hitting three-pointers and picking up their defensive play. However, the Blues went on a short run in the final minute and held a 13-point lead (34-21) at the half.

Laurentian continued to close the gap in the third quarter despite a stellar performance from third-year guard Erin McNeely (Kingston, Ont.). The Blues were up 47-41 going into the final frame.

The fourth quarter saw both sides trading baskets as Laurentian pushed hard at both ends of the court in an effort to pull ahead. The Voyageurs were able to pull the game within three, however, that would be as close as they would get as the Blues recorded their 13th consecutive win, 66-63.

Pierce and Nicki Schutz (Toronto) led the Blues with 15 points apiece, while fourth-year veteran Alaine Hutton (Hamilton, Ont.) added 14 points in the victory.

Bumstead recorded a double-double for the Voyageurs, with a game-high 17 points and 16 boards, while Kauri Lafontaine (Whitby, Ont.) recorded 11 points in the loss.