Box Score Fourth-year guard Jill Stratton recorded a game-high 23 points in leading the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's basketball team to a 57-53 win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday night (Feb. 1) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

The win, Toronto's second over Ottawa in two weeks, improves the Blues to .500 (9-9) as they remain in fourth place with four regular season games remaining.

Stratton went 10-for-12 from the free throw line, while adding five steals on the night. Fellow veteran Kristy Chute had 12 points, while Rachael Sider led the Blues with nine boards in the win.

The Blues got out to an 8-3 lead in the first quarter, but Ottawa rallied to even the score (10-10). Stratton drained a three to give U of T a 15-13 lead after 10 minutes of action. Five straight points from Stratton gave Toronto a seven-point advantage (20-13) early in the second, but the Gee-Gees brought the game back within two, trailing 25-23 at halftime.

The third quarter went back and forth until a Rahshida Atkinson jumper and a Sider three-pointer helped the Blues take a 43-37 lead into the final frame. Some early work from Chute and eight successful free throws from Stratton secured the two points for the Blues in the fourth quarter en route to the 57-53 win.

Angela Tilk led the Gee-Gees with a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards, while Stephanie MacDonald had 10 points and Maddie Stephen added a game-high 12 boards in the loss.

The Blues return to action next Friday, February 7 as they head to Sudbury, Ont., to take on the Laurentian Voyageurs. Game time is set for 6 p.m. 

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