Box Score Four players hit double digits as the No. 6 Varsity Blues women’s basketball team edged the Ryerson Rams 71-65 in their last regular season game on Friday night (Feb. 18) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

With the win, the Blues finish the season with an 18-4 record, tied with the Carleton Ravens for first place. Toronto awaits the results of the Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees game tomorrow night for final seeding in the OUA East. Either way, the Blues receive a first-round bye and an automatic berth into the OUA East Final Four (Feb. 26-27).

Kingston, Ont., native Erin McNeely tallied a team-high 17 points, while fellow veteran guard Sherri Pierce (Brampton, Ont.) had 16 points, going 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Second-year forward Alicia Van Kampen of Orangeville, Ont., stepped up with a 14-point performance, nine of which came in the fourth quarter, and rookie guard Jill Stratton of Etobicoke, Ont., had 13 points in the win.

Fifth-year Blues standout Nicki Schutz (Toronto) fouled out with 6:04 remaining in the fourth quarter, allowing the Rams to take a 59-58 lead; However, the Blues powered through as Van Kampen and Stratton combined for 16 of Toronto’s 18 fourth-quarter points to pull of their 11th consecutive victory.

Second-year forward Kelsey Wright got the Rams off to a great start, going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc to tally 11 of Ryerson’s 15 first-quarter points; however, Toronto, led by a seven-point quarter by Pierce, held a narrow 16-15 lead heading into the second.

Pierce went 5-for-5 from the free throw line and added another nine points, while Ashley MacDonald (Port Colbourne, Ont.) had seven in a back-and-forth second quarter. McNeely drained a jumper at the buzzer to give Toronto a 37-30 lead at halftime.

McNeely opened the second half with five early points as the Blues built a commanding 13-point advantage. Sophomore forward Alexandra Tkacyzk attempted to rally the visiting squad and a MacDonald three brought the game within three. The Blues held onto a narrow 53-49 lead heading into the fourth.

Both MacDonald and Wright recorded a game-high 20 points, while Tkaczyk ended with 10 in the loss. Ryerson finishes with a 10-12 record in fourth place in the OUA East and will host the Queen’s Gaels in an OUA playoff on Wednesday night.

GAME NOTES:

As is tradition at every final regular season home game, the Varsity Blues honoured five graduating athletes in a post-game ceremony.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.