The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s basketball team handily defeated the RMC Paladins 73-44 on Friday, February 5 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

With the win the Blues improve to 8-11 and remain in sixth place in the OUA East, while the Paladins drop to 0-19 on the season.

The Blues dominated the first quarter to build a 14-7 lead that would not diminish for the remainder of the game. A solid team effort would see Toronto progressively improve with each quarter, scoring 15, 20, and 24 points, respectively, to leave the Paladins helpless to comeback.

Toronto shot 47.5% from the floor, to RMC’s 32.7% and out-rebounded the Paladins 42-29 on the night.

Megan Stoncius of Mississauga, Ont. and first-year forward Alicia Van Kampen (Orangeville, Ont.) each tallied nine points in the second half to lift the Blues to a 29-point victory.

Stoncius tallied a game-high 17 points, while veteran Nicki Schutz (Toronto) recorded yet another double-double with 14 points and 11 boards on the night.

Carley Lewis (Halifax, N.S.) led the Paladins with 12 points, while Carolyn Pumphrey (Gander, Nfld.), Samantha Bayne (Ottawa) and Abby Edmison (Carleton Place, Ont.) had nine points apiece in the loss.

The Varsity Blues return to action tomorrow night when they host the Queen’s Gaels in their third annual Cheer Blue, Think Pink game. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.