Box Score Photo Gallery

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's basketball team defeated the Ryerson Rams 69-66 in OUA East quarter-final action on Wednesday night (Feb. 19) at the Athletic Centre Sports Gym.

With the win, the Blues advance to the East semifinals and will travel to Kingston, Ont., this Saturday, February 22 for a do or die battle with the first-place Queen's Gaels at 6 p.m.

Fourth-year guard Jill Stratton of Etobicoke, Ont., led all players with 21 points, while Vanessa Brathwaite notched a career-high 16 points and added seven rebounds. Montreal native Liane Bailey recorded 14 points, while Alicia Van Kampen had eight points and eight boards in the win.

The first quarter started as a back-and-forth battle, until the Blues went on a 7-0 run started by a Rashida Atkinson three. Liane Bailey extended Toronto's lead even further with back-to-back three-pointers and the Blues took a 30-17 lead into the second.

Both teams exchanged baskets in the second and some late work from Mariah Nunes brought Ryerson within nine towards the end of the frame. U of T took a 42-33 lead into halftime.

Toronto's five veterans led the way in the third quarter and a late jumper by Stratton gave the Blues a 54-45 advantage head into the final frame.

Ryerson opened the fourth on a 7-2 run to bring the game within four (56-52), but a three-point from Stratton and two points from Brathwaite re-established a seven-point cushion with five minutes to go.

The Rams continued to battle back and a Keneca Pingue-Giles drained a three to cut U of T's lead to one, but a couple of Brathwaite free throws sealed the win for the Blues. 

Pingue-Giles led the Rams with 18 points and seven boards, while Mariah Nunes had 16 points in the loss. 

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.