Box Score Fourth-year guard Jill Stratton notched a game-high 24 points in leading the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's basketball team to a 76-73 victory over the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday night.

With the win, the Blues improve to 1-6, while the Gryphons drop to 3-5 so far this season.
Stratton (Etobicoke) was 8-for-19 from the floor and 8-for-11 from the free throw line, while adding eight rebounds, four assists and five steals on the night.

Fellow fourth-year guard Rachael Sider (New Westminster, B.C.) added 14 points, while Vanessa Brathwaite chipped in with 11 points and Liane Bailey added 10 in the victory.

Trailing 14-4 in the early goings of the first quarter, Alanna Garner (London, Ont.) nailed a three to rally the Blues and a couple of lay ups from Brathwaite brought U of T within five (20-15) after 10 minutes of action.

A big second quarter saw Toronto outscore Guelph 21-9 and take a 36-29 lead at halftime. Sider drained eight points in the second frame to give the Blues the lead that would not diminish.

U of T continued to dominate in the third, led by a 13-point quarter from Stratton and held a 58-50 advantage heading into the final frame.

Guelph brought the game within two early in the fourth quarter, but the Blues responded with a 7-0 run to re-establish the lead. The Gryphons rallied again to come within three with one second remaining, but could not complete the comeback as the Blues secured their first win of the season.

Katherine MacTavish and Dana Van Balkom led the gryphons with 20 points apiece, while Julia Tennant had eight points and a game-high 10 boards in the loss.

The Varsity Blues wrap up the first half of the season at Ryerson next Saturday, November 30. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

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