Box Score The Varsity Blues women’s basketball team defeated the Guelph Gryphons 64-56 on Saturday, November 19 at W.F. Mitchell Centre.

The No. 8 Blues improve to 3-1, while the Gryphons drop to 2-2 after Week 2 of the OUA women’s basketball regular season. The win marks Toronto’s fifth straight over Guelph as the Gryphons last defeated the Blues on Nov. 25, 2006.

Second-year guard and Etobicoke, Ont., native Jill Stratton tallied a game-high 16 points, six steals and four assists, while third-year forward Alicia Van Kampen of Orangeville, Ont., recorded a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards. Veteran Sherri Pierce (Brampton, Ont.) added 12 points in the win.

The play went back-and-forth throughout the entire first half, with neither team building a substantial lead.  The Gryphons led 19-18 after the first quarter; however, Toronto battled back and took a 34-29 advantage into halftime. 

The Blues continued to extend their lead over the third and fourth quarters, with the Gryphons unable to close the gap. U of T went on to widen the score to double digits midway through the fourth quarter and withheld a late Guelph rally to notch their third win of the season.

Guelph was led by Kayla Goodhoofd’s 12 points, while Katherina MacTavish added 10 in the loss.

The Varsity Blues return to the court next Friday, November 25 as they host the Western Mustangs at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Tip off is scheduled for 8 p.m.