Box Score Ashley McDonald’s three with five seconds remaining would snap the Varsity Blues women’s basketball team’s five-game win streak as the Ryerson Rams squeaked out a 66-65 win on Friday, February 3 at Kerr Hall Gym.

The loss drops U of T to 12-6 and leaves them in third place in the OUA East, behind the Carleton Ravens (12-5) and Ottawa Gee-Gees (15-2).

Up 50-49 heading into the fourth, the game went back-and-forth and Toronto held a 65-63 lead with 38 seconds to go.  After a missed jumper by the Blues, the Rams came charging down the court and McDonald sealed the deal with a final three, her first of the night. 

Fifth-year forward Megan Stoncius of Mississauga, Ont., led the Blues with 16 points, while Sherri Pierce (Brampton, Ont.) had 14 and Etobicoke, Ont., native Jill Stratton had 13 in the loss.

Both teams exchanged baskets to start the first, with the game tying three times in the first five minutes of the contest.  Deadlocked at 11-11, Toronto went on a 9-2 run, only to be answered by a 6-0 Ryerson streak.  The Blues held a narrow 20-19 lead heading into the second quarter.

The second frame saw much of the same and ended in a 34-32 favour of U of T at halftime. Both Stratton and Stoncius had 10 first-half points, while Dayana Gechkova led the Rams with 10 of her own.

The see-saw affair continued in the third quarter as both teams exchanged the lead.  Pierce would tally six late points to give Toronto a one-point lead (50-49) after 30 minutes of action.

Kelsey Wright led the Rams with 16 points, while McDonald ended the night with 15. Gechkova recorded a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards in the win.

The Varsity Blues return to the court next Friday, February 10 when they host the Laurentian Lady Vees in their fifth annual Cheer Blue, Think Pink game at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.

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