Box Score Fourth-year forward Rahshida Atkinson led all players with 19 points in helping the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's basketball team to a 79-64 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs on Friday, November 18 at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
 
With the win, the Blues improve to 1-3 in the early goings of the 2016-17 regular season, while the Voyageurs drop to 0-3.
 
Atkinson went 7-for-13 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the free throw line, while adding six rebounds on the night. Second-year guard Keyira Parkes added nine points and two steals, while fifth-year veteran Alanna Garner also had nine points, five boards and three assists.
 
Emily Piccini chipped in with nine points, three boards and two assists, while Diedre Edwards tallied eight points, a team-high eight rebounds and a game-high five assists. Rookie Charlotte Craig notched eight points and four rebounds, with Charlotte Collyer adding seven points in the victory.
 
Edwards and Parkes paced the Blues with six points each to put the home team up 22-18 after the first quarter. Parkes continued to hold a hot hand, draining her third three-pointer to open the second frame, and five late points from Atkinson gave Toronto a 45-33 advantage at halftime.
 

WBB: @TorontoBluesWBB leading @LUVoyageurs 22-18 after the first quarter. WATCH this nice work from Sarah Bennett! #WeAreTO pic.twitter.com/RLMNbwNN5r

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 18, 2016

 

WBB: @TorontoBluesWBB leads @LUVoyageurs 45-33 at halftime!
WATCH Sarah Bennett with the nice pass to rookie Charlotte Craig! #WeAreTO5 pic.twitter.com/2oa8WWt1KH

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 18, 2016

The two teams went back and forth in the third, with the Blues holding onto a 10-point lead (58-48) heading into the fourth quarter. Toronto got out to fast start in the fourth quarter, going on an 11-2 run in the first three minutes to put the Voyageurs away for good.
 

WBB: @TorontoBluesWBB leading @LUVoyageurs 58-48 after the third quarter.
WATCH a nice pass from Maddy Baker for the Sarah Bennett basket! pic.twitter.com/SVjDNF70dP

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) November 19, 2016

Third-year guard Emily Tinnes led the Voyageurs with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists, while L'Ashante Henry had 12 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
 
The Varsity Blues return to action tomorrow night as they host the Nipissing Lakers at Goldring Centre. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale here. The game will also be streamed live on OUA.tv
 
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