Box Score Liane Bailey tallied a team-high 14 points in a 65-57 losing effort to the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday, January 12 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.
 
The loss drops the Blues into fourth place with a 5-6 record, two points behind the Queen’s Gaels (6-6) with a game in hand.  The Gee-Gees improve to 9-3 and remain tied with the Carleton Ravens (9-3) for first place in the East.
 
Bailey (Montreal) added five rebounds and two steals, while Rachael Sider (New Westminster, B.C.) had 12 points in the loss.
 
Ottawa’s Tatiana Hanlan led all players with 17 points with Alyska Lukan adding 14 in the win.
 
Toronto opened the game on a 10-4 run before the Gee-Gees found their legs. Ottawa slowly inched their way back into the game and cut the gap to four (15-11) after the first quarter.
 
Gee-Gees Tatiana Hanlan (Gatineu, Que.) and Julia Soriano (Toronto) drained back-to-back three’s to gain the lead early in the second and a back-and-forth battle ensued.  A Sider three at the end of the frame would leave the game deadlocked at 30-30 at halftime.
 
This time, Ottawa opened the half on a 10-4 run; however, the Blues responded and evened the score at 43-43 with three minutes remaining. The Gee-Gees restored their lead with consecutive three’s and held a 53-45 advantage heading into the final quarter.
 
Ottawa extended their lead for good with an 8-0 streak to start the fourth. The Blues rallied to bring the game within six but it was too little, too late in their second consecutive loss.
 
The Varsity Blues return to the court next Friday, January 18 as they travel to take on the York Lions (1-10). Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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