Box Score The No. 5 Varsity Blues dropped a 64-57 decision to the No. 7 Laurier Golden Hawks in the consolation final on Sunday afternoon at the 2011 CIS women’s basketball Final 8 championship in Windsor, Ont.

The Blues are now 3-1 in CIS consolation final action, having previously finished fifth in 1982, 1987 and 1993. U of T ends their 2010-11 campaign as the sixth-ranked team in the country.

A member of the CIS all-rookie team, Jill Stratton of Etobicoke, Ont., recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. In her last game as a Varsity Blue, fifth-year guard Erin McNeely tallied 13 points and seven rebounds, while fellow graduating player Nicki Schutz of Toronto had 10 points and seven boards in the loss.

Down 13 heading into the fourth, the Blues went on a 10-1 run thanks to two three-pointers from fourth-year guard Joanna Medri. Toronto brought the game within five twice in the last five minutes yet weren’t able to get any closer as Laurier held their ground and successfully avenged their loss in the OUA bronze medal match two weeks ago.

In their first meeting on the national stage, Laurier opened the game with a 14-4 run due in large part to four consecutive three-pointers and built a lead they did not relinquish for the remainder of the game. The Blues chipped away, trying to make up some ground but still trailed 20-11 at the end of the first.

The Hawks extended their lead to 20 (34-14) in the first half of the second quarter. Five late points by McNeely would narrow the gap to 13 at the break (36-23). The Kingston, Ont., native had a team-high seven points, while Laurier’s veteran guard Mallory Kohlmeier recorded 14 points and four assists in the first half.

The Blues struggled from the floor, shooting 27% compared to Laurier’s 40%, and committed 10 turnovers through the first 20 minutes of action.

U of T came out of the dressing room with more energy to start the second half and matched Laurier basket for basket, however still trailed by 13 (49-36) heading into the final frame.

Kohlmeier led all players with 18 points, while OUA West all-star Renata Adamczyk recorded a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds. Megan Grant chipped in with 10 points in the win.