Box Score Five players hit double digits as the No. 10 Varsity Blues women’s basketball team overcame a third-quarter deficit to defeat the Queen’s Gaels 73-63 on Saturday night (Jan. 7) at the ARC in Kingston, Ont.

Down 54-52, second-year guard Jill Stratton opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to spark a 19-3 run that would secure Toronto’s seventh win of the season.

"Great defensive focus by the team in the fourth," commented Varsity Blues head coach Michele Belanger. "We did all the little things well. We defended their scorers extremely well and it paid off."

A native of Etobicoke, Ont., Stratton tallied a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds.  Fifth-year guard Sherri Pierce (Brampton, Ont.) had 15 points, four assists and three steals, while both Megan Stoncius and Rachel Sider had 10 points and seven boards on the night.  Toronto native Joanna Medri added 10 points, four assists and three steals in the win. 

Sider opened the first quarter with a three and the play went back-and-forth from there. Stratton nailed her first three of the game with two seconds remaining in the frame to give Toronto a 14-12 lead.

The Gaels started the second quarter with a 10-0 run, thanks in large part to Jenny Wright, only to be answered by six consecutive Varsity Blues points.  Queen’s ran into foul trouble as Toronto sank seven consecutive free throws in the last 1:07 of the second to even the score at 31-31 heading into the locker room.

Sider drained another three to open the second half but the Gaels responded with their second 10-0 run of the game.  Toronto answered back with an 8-0 streak of their own and headed into the fourth quarter down two points (54-52).

The Gaels were led by Brittany Moore’s 14-point performance, with Wright and Liz Boag adding 11 in the loss.

The Varsity Blues (7-3) return home next Friday, January 13 as they host the No. 9 Ottawa Gee-Gees (8-2) during South Asian Night at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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