In a battle between two of the top teams in the OUA East, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s basketball team managed to keep their winning streak alive with a 67-61 victory over the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Friday, February 6 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.
Second-year guard Emilie Morasse (Quebec, Ont.) opened up the game with a three-pointer to get the Gee-Gees on the board. The Blues then went on an eight-point run in what would be a scrappy first quarter to take an 8-3 lead. Not to be outdone, the Gee-Gees rallied in the dying minutes to tie things up 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.
Ottawa continued to press, led by Hannah Sunley-Paisley’s (Toronto) five points to take an 24-16 lead at the midway point of the second quarter. The Blues were able to close the gap throughout the rest of the quarter yet Ottawa held a narrow 29-27 lead at the half.
In the third, both teams exchanged points but the Blues captured the lead and widened the gap when Sherri Pierce (4:39) stole the ball for a layup to put Toronto up 41-35. Things continued to go back-and-forth but a Nicki Shutz (Toronto) jumper would give the Blues a four-point lead (48-44) at the end of the third quarter.
Toronto carried that momentum into the final frame as Shutz and Pierce combined for 15 of the Blues 19 fourth-quarter points. The Blues held off Ottawa’s offensive push and secured their tenth consecutive win.
Despite sitting the second quarter with foul trouble, Shutz had a double-double with a game-high 15 points and 11 boards. Pierce was named the Blues player of the game with 12 points, while Alaine Hutton (Hamilton, Ont.) had 12 points of her own. Tara Kinnear (Kemptville, Ont.) also had 11 boards in the victory.
The Gee-Gees were let by Morasse’s 14 points, while Kelly Weird had 12 points. Sunley-Paisley tallied 10 points and a team-high nine boards in the loss.
With the win, Toronto remains in first place of the OUA East division, four points ahead of both the Carleton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees.
The Varsity Blues return to action tomorrow night as they host the Carleton Ravens in the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
