The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s basketball team defeated the visiting Queen’s Gaels, 70-61, in the third annual Think Pink game in support of breast cancer research on Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

Toronto native Nicki Schutz shot 56 percent from the floor and was 5-5 from the free throw line. The OUA’s third leading scorer, averaging 17.5 points per game, totalled a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds as well as five assists and four steals to help lead the Blues to their ninth win of the season.

Fifth-year forward Katie Guthrie (Orillia, Ont.) was solid for the third-placed Gaels (12-9). She also knocked down 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting, was 9-of-12 from the charity stripe and hauled in six boards in a losing cause.

The Varsity Blues were on fire in the first quarter of play. As a team, they shot 50% and hit 6-of-8 free throws. Up by as many as 14, 22-8, with 3:30 remaining in the first, Queen’s closed out the quarter with a 6-1 run to cut Toronto’s lead to 23-14 after 10 minutes of action.

The momentum continued for the home team and a Katelyn McConnell jumper would extend the lead to 31-16 with just over seven minutes left in the first half. However, Queen’s wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. As Toronto’s hot hand cooled off, the Gaels revved things up in the latter stages of the second quarter. Capped off by two Guthrie baskets, the visitors closed out the first half on a 14-1 run to cut the Blues lead to just two points (32-30).

Coming out of halftime, Queen’s took their first lead of the contest at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter and went on to outscore Toronto 24-21 to take a slight one-point advantage into the final frame.

On a night then they supported pink, the Blue and White came out with some fight in the fourth. With 3:30 remaining in regulation, rookie Alicia Van Kampen of Orangeville, Ont. stole the ball on an attempted pass through the paint and veteran Joanna Medri (Toronto) finished at the other end with a huge three-pointer that would give the Blues back the lead for good (61-60).

The Blues closed the game on a 15-1 run of their own to pull off the upset over their divisional foes.

Kingston, Ont. native Erin McNeely had a season-high 20 points and added five rebounds and four assists, playing all 40 minutes of this contest. Medri also contributed a solid 12 points and grabbed six boards in the win.

A third-year guard from Hannon, Ont., Brittany Moore had 16 points for the Gaels, while six-foot forward Christine Wallace (North Gower, Ont.) hauled in a team-high nine rebounds.

The Varsity Blues are back in action next Friday, Feb. 12 when they host cross-town rivals York Lions. Tip is set 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.