Box Score The Varsity Blues women’s basketball team moves back into a tie for second place in the OUA East after an 87-56 win over the Ryerson Rams on Wednesday, January 18 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

The Blues (8-5) are deadlocked with the Carleton Ravens (8-5), who fell 59-55 to the Ottawa Gee-Gees (11-2) tonight, for second place. Ryerson drops to 5-8 and sits in sixth place.

Fifth-year guard Joanna Medri was named the Varsity Blue player of the game, tallying 15 points, four rebounds, four steals and four assists on the night.  Sophomore standout Jill Stratton (Etobicoke, Ont.) recorded a team-high 16 points, while adding five boards and four assists. 

Brampton, Ont., native Sherri Pierce also had 15 points and a game-high five assists, while Liane Baily added 10 points and six rebounds in the win.

The first quarter was a see-saw battle as the game tied four times before the Blues took a slight lead.  U of T carried a three-point advantage (22-19) into the second quarter, only to have Ryerson come back in the first three minutes.

Toronto did not deflate, and went on an 8-3 run for the remainder of the low-scoring quarter to build a 34-28 lead at halftime. 

The Blues struggled from beyond the arc, going 1-for-11 in the first half, while Ashley MacDonald led the charge for Ryerson with 13 points, including three three-pointers.

U of T opened the second half on an 18-3 run to build a commanding 15-point lead that would not diminish.  The Rams started to show glimpses of a rally late in the third as Toronto was up 58-39 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Rams drained four free throws to start the fourth quarter, only to be answered by four Toronto three-pointers, two from Medri and one each from Pierce and Stratton. The Blues went onto outscore Ryerson 29-17 in the fourth to round out the dominant win.

Toronto shot 60% from the floor, including 6-of-12 from three-point land, combining for an impressive 53 points in the second half.

MacDonald led all players with 21 points, while Angela Tilk recorded a double-double of 11 points and 11 boards. Alexandra Tkaczyk had a game-high 13 rebounds in the loss.

The Varsity Blues return to the court this Friday, January 20 as they head to Sudbury, Ont., to take on the Laurentian Lady Vees. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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