Box Score Nicki Schutz tallied 25 points and hauled in 14 rebounds to rally the Varsity Blues women’s basketball team and lead them to a 53-51 comeback win over the McMaster Marauders on Saturday, November 6 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

The fourth-year forward put up 13 points in the final 10 minutes of the game, including the game-winning jumper with eight seconds left on the clock to give the home squad a two-point victory.

With the win, the Blues improve to 2-0, while the Marauders drop to 0-2 to start the 2010-11 regular season.

Toronto’s shooters struggled throughout the first half, shooting 15% from the floor, compared to McMaster’s 50%, and were held to just 18 points through the first two quarters.

The Marauders, in turn, were led by eight first-half points from both Alyska Lukan and Taylor Chiarot, and held a 14-point lead (31-17) at halftime.

Down by as many as 17 midway through the third quarter, Blues rookies Liane Bailey of Montreal and Jill Stratton (Etobicoke, Ont.) knocked down back-to-back three-pointers that seemed to ignite the Blues’ offence a little.

Schutz took over from there. Two steals and two jumpers to close out the third had Toronto within 10 of the visiting Marauders, heading into the final frame.

Led by their all-star, the Blues went on a 13-1 run to tie the game at 45-45 with 4:42 remaining. Veteran guard Sherri Pierce nailed a huge bucket with 23 seconds remaining to give the Blues the lead.

McMaster’s Jaklynn Nimec put her team up one moments later but they could not hold the lead. On the next possession, Schutz hit 1-of-2 from the line to tie things up at 51. The Blues got the ball back on a McMaster turnover on the ensuing inbound pass with 10 seconds remaining; giving Schutz the opportunity to drain the last-second shot.