The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's basketball team defeated the Nipissing Lakers 61-32 in their final regular season game on Saturday night (Feb. 17) at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

Toronto honoured fifth-year graduating players Rahshida Atkinson, Diedre Edwards and Emily Piccini in a special post-game ceremony. Before that, they were all placed in the starting lineup.

Atkinson recorded 13 points and five rebounds, Edwards filled the stat sheet with five points, two assists, two rebounds and three steals, while Piccini registered nine points, six rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals in the victory.

Keyira Parkes hit a game-high 20 points, six rebounds and four steals on the night.

The Blues capped of the season on a six-game winning streak to finish with an 11-12 record. The last time the program went on this type of streak was back in 2011, the last time they qualified for the national championship.

U of T turned defence into offence in the first half. The women forced 17 turnovers and recorded 17 points off of them compared to Nipissing's two. That 15 point difference helped the Blues take a 31-17 lead into half time.

The Blue and White didn't look back from there as they held the Lakers to just 15 points the rest of the way.

Toronto travels to the nation's capital to dual the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday. The last time the two teams battled in late January, the Blues came from behind to win thanks to a 25-9 fourth quarter outburst. That victory kick started the six-game winning streak they're currently on.

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