The Varsity Blues women’s basketball team hosted the Guelph Gryphons at Goldring Centre this Saturday, November 15. In their previous home game, the Blues emerged victorious over the McMaster Marauders in an exciting overtime period, where the Blues won 72–69. 

Yet, despite their best attempts to capitalize on home court advantage, the Blues were defeated 60–69 after four hard-fought quarters against the Gryphons. 

What happened? 

The Blues and Gryphons were equally matched in the opening quarters of the game. The Blues took a small 15–13 lead by the end of the first quarter. But by halftime, the Gryphons had clawed their way back and pushed the Blues back 24–29. 

Although the Blues upped their scoring pace and ended the third quarter with 20 points put up compared to their opposition’s 21, the Gryphons held their lead in the final quarter. They eventually defeated the Blues 60–69. 

Despite their best efforts, the Blues fell to the Gryphons with a final score of 60–69. WILLIAM KUK/THE VARSITY

Second-year guard Lia Barbieri stood out as the core contributor for the Blues with 16 points, six steals and seven rebounds. Fourth-year forward Janet Enge ended the match with 12 points, and second-year center Zi Yang Wang also fought hard in the key, scoring 10 points and securing seven rebounds. The Gryphons offence was led by Christina Morra’s 18 points, followed by Hannah Bourdon with 16 points and Macy Weber, who contributed another 12. 

What’s next? 

The game marked the Blues’ seventh consecutive loss to the Gryphons, with their previous matchup ending with a score of 52–82 on November 9, 2024. Their last win against the Gryphons came in 2017. After falling to the York Lions on the road the previous day, the women’s basketball team ended the weekend with two losses and an overall record of 2–6, bringing them to fifth out of six teams in the OUA central division. 

Three more games are scheduled for the Blues before the year’s end. Algoma University will host the Blues next Friday, on November 21, in Sault Ste. Marie, and the last two matches will be played from the Goldring Centre on November 28 and 29 against the Nippising Lakers and Laurentian Voyageurs, respectively.