Box Score Fourth-year guards Rachael Sider and Jill Stratton each notched 20 points as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's basketball team defeated the Ryerson Rams 58-54 on Sunday, January 5 at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

With the win, Toronto's third-straight regular season victory, the Blues improve to 3-6 and move into a tie with the Rams (3-7) for fourth place in the East with a game in hand.

Sider went 8-for-22 from the floor and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and completed the double-double with 10 boards, while Stratton was 7-of-17 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the free throw line, adding nine rebounds and five assists. The duo combined for over two thirds of Toronto's offence in the win.

Sider drained three three-pointers in the first quarter to give the Blues a 17-12 advantage after 10 minutes. The New Westminster, B.C., native nailed another in the second quarter. That, combined with an and one from Stratton and a three from rookie Emily Piccini gave the Blues a 27-21 lead at halftime.

The Blues opened the second half on a 16-2 run thanks in large part to nine straight points from Stratton. The Rams battled back on a 12-0 run of their own but Stratton drained her second three of the quarter to restore a 10-point lead heading into the final frame (45-35).

The Rams continued to close the gap and brought the game within three in the opening minutes of the fourth, but a Sider jumper and an Alanna Garner lay up restored a seven-point (49-42) lead.

Ryerson brought the game within two with 50 seconds to go, but Stratton came up with a huge steal and drove the basket hard for the lay up and foul to secure the victory.

Ryerson's Keneca Pingue-Giles led all players with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Mariah Nunes added 18 points in the loss.

The Varsity Blues return to action this Tuesday, January 7 as they host the Waterloo Warriors (2-7) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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