With back-to-back doubleheaders this weekend (Nov. 18-19) at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's and women's basketball teams are looking to make a jump in the OUA standings at the expense of the Laurentian Voyageurs and Nipissing Lakers. 
 
The women tip off at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m., on both nights. Friday Fan Zone, featuring a licensed area at the north end of the court, is in effect! Advance tickets are on sale here with the games also being streamed live on OUA.tv.
 
Following two hard-fought losses to nationally ranked opponents in No. 10 Ryerson and No. 7 Brock, the Varsity Blues men's team sit fourth in the OUA East division with a 1-2 record.
 
U of T's offence through the first three games this season has been driven by long-distance shots, ranking first in the province in three-pointers made (27) and third in three-point percentage (44.3), and shots from the charity stripe, leading the OUA in both attempted and made free throws (54-71).
 
There is no better example of this offensive recipe than two-time OUA all-star Devin Johnson. The fifth-year forward currently sits tied for fifth in OUA scoring, averaging 21 points per game, while making over 10 trips to the free throw line and shooting 44.4 per cent from behind the arc.
 
Behind Johnson, secondary scoring has come from fellow fifth-year forward Manny Sahota and third-year guard Sage Usher who are both averaging double-digit points early in the season.
 
As for the women, the Varsity Blues will have a good chance at picking up their first win of 2016 as the Voyageurs and Lakers both travel to Toronto winless to open the season.
 
U of T has discovered a defensive identity, sitting fourth in the province in both defensive rebounds (29.0) and steals (11.0) per game.
 
However, the Blues will need to find a stronger scoring touch to lift their offence to the next level.
 
Fourth-year guard Rahshida Atkinson leads the pack with 10.5 points per game, while a career-high 16 from second-year forward Charlotte Collyer versus No. 9 Ryerson this past Friday (Nov. 11) has elevated the Texas native to 7.7 per game. Alongside fellow second-years Keyira Parkes (9.0) and Sarah Bennett (7.0) the young Blues squad looks to be on the verge of breaking through.
 
Following the weekend home stand the Varsity Blues will hit the road and head to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to challenge the Algoma Thunderbirds next Saturday, November 26. The women tip off at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 8 p.m. with all the action being streamed live on OUA.tv.
 
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, SnapChat and Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.