TORONTO, ON - Friday night at the University of Toronto, the Gryphons women's basketball team suffered a 77-70 loss to the Varsity Blues in a game that signalled a return to OUA regular season play for both squads following the exam/Christmas break. With the loss, the Gryphons fall to 1-6 on the season while Toronto improves to 5-4.

After trailing by seven points at halftime, the Gryphons would battle back, outscoring U of T 20-14 in the 3rd quarter. Guelph opened the 3rd on an 18-5 run and led by six with just over three minutes to go in the 3rd quarter. However, the Varsity Blues would pull away late in the 4th to secure the victory, shooting 40% from the field in the final quarter while knocking down 8-of-9 from the free throw line to help close out the game.

Leading the way for the Gryphons on Friday night was third year guard Haley Belyk who poured in a career-high 22 points in the loss on an efficient 10-of-16 shooting from the field. The Regina native had 14 points in the first half alone and more than doubled her previous career-high, which was a 10-point performance in Ottawa against the Gee-Gees back in her rookie season in 2014-15. Belyk was one of four Gryphon players to score in double figures on the night, with Ashely Wheeler (14 points) and Megan Brenkel (13 points) close behind, both of whom finished 5-of-8 from the floor. Second year guard Sarah Holmes (Welland, ON) added 10 points off the bench while logging 34 minutes of floor time and leading the team in both rebounding (7) and assists (7). 

Friday night's game was the first of back-to-back games in Toronto for the Gryphons, who will face the No. 6-ranked team in the country on Saturday night as they travel to Ryerson to face the defending OUA champion Ryerson Rams (6-1). Game time versus Ryerson is set for 6pm and can be seen live online at www.oua.tv.