The Varsity Blues women’s basketball team came into their games this past weekend ranked seventh in the CIS with a 4-1 record, sitting on top of the OUA East standings.
On Friday night the Brock Badgers paid a visit, and the Blues were looking to snap a five-game losing streak to the Badgers, dating back to 2004.
Toronto got was down early, 24-16 through the first quarter, but slowly chipped away at the lead and went into the half down 37-35. Despite the close margin, the Blues were having trouble finding the bottom of the net, shooting 38 per cent in the half.
The Blues kept the pressure going, however, and held a lead in the third quarter. Guard Jill Stratton led that charge, ripping down five offensive rebounds and putting on a few razzle-dazzle ball-handling moves, energizing the large crowd at the Athletic Centre.
In the fourth quarter the Blues would squander their lead, and were outscored 20-13 in the frame, subsequently losing 74-67. Despite pouring in 21 points and pulling down eight rebounds, forward Nicki Schutz couldn’t seem to get anything going in the fourth quarter to keep her team in the game.
Toronto didn’t improve on their field goal percentage for the game, and to make matters worse, shot a meager 47 per cent from the free-throw line. Coach Michele Belanger identified two concerns that cost them the game.
“Our inability to score, both from the field and from the line, and late in the game our inability to defend the drive,” she said. “Our one-on-one defense was atrocious. That was the game-breaker.”
“They really stretched us out on the defensive end,” added Schutz. “We should be a 70% free-throw shooting team.”
On Saturday, the Guelph Gryphons were the opponent, and U of T was looking to rebound from the previous night’s loss. The determined Blues team took went to the locker room at halftime with a slim 28-26 lead to talk things over, and when they came out in the third quarter, they came out with guns blazing.
Toronto outscored Guelph 21-11 in the third quarter, and never trailed for the remainder of the game, en route to an 80-65 win. Schutz recorded a double-double, with 11 points and 13 rebounds, but more importantly was one of three Blues players to dish out five assists for the game, the other two being guards Erin McNeely and Sherri Pierce.
U of T also drastically improved their shooting from the night before, with percentages going up in all categories. The Blues doubled their free-throw percentage from Friday night, converting 78 per cent of them, and also held Guelph to 33 per cent from the field.
McNeely had a breakout game, and adding to her five assists she also scored 14 points and amassed seven rebounds.
“She had a great game,” said Belanger. “She played outstanding. She had a great scoring game, she made some great passes, she defended hard, she rebounded, I can’t ask her to do any more.”
Stratton also chipped in with 12 points, and forward Megan Stoncius added nine in her first action this season since suffering a foot injury. “She adds a little bit more toughness,” Belanger said of Stoncius. “She’s willing to sacrifice her body for the good of the team, and not too many players are willing to do that. I really was pleased with her play, and added a big dimension to our game.”
The scoring play from the guards and Stoncius’ return to the lineup couldn’t have come at a better time, as it can give Schutz more room to work and dominate the game like she has for the last two seasons.
“It’ll definitely take the pressure off her,” said McNeely. “She always has at least one and a half girls on her all the time, so if we can hit some shots it’ll be good for everybody.”
This weekend the Blues take their 5-2 record on the road and head out to Waterloo for a game on Friday night, and then visit Laurier on Saturday afternoon as they wrap up the OUA West portion of their schedule before the December break.
