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Third-year guard Rahshida Atkinson notched 16 points in leading the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's basketball team to a 63-61 victory over the Waterloo Warriors in their 2015-16 home opener on Wednesday night (Nov. 11) at Goldring Centre.

With the win, the Blues improve to 1-1, while the Warriors drop to 0-3 in the early goings of the OUA season.

Atkinson added nine rounds and one steal to her team-high 16 points on the night. Fellow third-year guard Diedre Edwards had 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, shooting 4-for-7 from the field and going 5-for-7 from the free throw line.

Team co-captain Abena Addo notched eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds, with both Emily Piccini and Jay Gaunt adding eight points in the victory.

Tied 45-45 at the start of the fourth, the Blues went on a 15-4 run to build a nice cushion with four minutes remaining. The Warriors battle back though, and a Nicole Schlick basket brought the visitors within one (62-61) late in the game. Toronto held on for their first win of the season with a final free throw from Edwards.

Third-year Warriors guard Kristen Osborne led all players with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Schlick added eight points and a team-high 12 boards and Emily Wilk and Ella Mahler also had eight points in the loss.

The Varsity Blues return to the court this Saturday, November 14 when they travel to Hamilton to take on the McMaster Marauders. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Varsity Blues honoured head coach Michèle Bélanger in a special post game ceremony. Bélanger recorded her 800th career victory during the pre-season when Toronto defeated the UBC Okanagan Heat at Goldring Centre. In her 37 seasons at U of T, she has racked up an 802-413 overall record to date (includes regular season, playoffs and exhibition.