2/17/2010 8:55:22 PM
KINGSTON, Ont. (February 17, 2010) – The Queen’s women’s basketball season came to an abrupt end on Wednesday night as the Toronto Varsity Blues upset the Gaels 62-54 in a OUA East Quarter-final playoff game.

Queen’s (13-9) finished the regular season in third place of the OUA East Division while the Varsity Blues (11-11) held the sixth seed.

Nicki Schutz (Toronto) poured in 21 points and posted 10 rebounds to record her sixth straight double-double game. She was also the game’s top scorer and rebounder. Kingston’s Erin McNeely finished with 18 points in the win for Toronto.

For the Gaels, Brittany Moore (#8) of Hannon, Ont., posted 19 points and registered seven rebounds. Fourth-year forward Erin Skippon (#13) of Kelowna, B.C., playing in what could be her final game as a Gael, tallied 12 points and contributed nine rebounds. Queen’s rookie Hanna Koposhynska (#14) of Toronto also recorded nine rebounds in the loss.

The two teams were tied heading into halftime at 23 apiece, but Toronto exploded for 25 points in the third quarter to open a 10-point lead moving into the final frame.

The Gaels would score six in the opening minutes of the fourth to cut the lead to two points and maintained pace with Toronto into the dying minutes. However, McNeely would score five points in the final 1:30 to seal Toronto’s victory at 62-54.

The Gaels split the season series with Toronto earning a 68-50 win back on January 8 in Queen’s second to last game at Bartlett Gymnasium inside the Physical Education Centre (PEC). Toronto took the rematch one month later on February 6 in Toronto, 70-61.

Overall this season, the Gaels were led by Moore who averaged 16.2 points per game and ranks fourth in the nation in three-points made (53) and eighth in points scored (356). Fifth-year transfer Katie Guthrie (#22) of Orillia, Ont., was a welcome addition to the Gaels scoring punch averaging 12.5 points per game and posting a season high 30 points against McMaster on Nov. 7. Skippon was the team’s top rebounder with 150 ranking her 16th in the nation.

Queen’s tallied a stellar 8-4 home record including a 3-2 record in the new Main Gym of the Athletics & Recreation Centre which opened on January 17. On the road, the Gaels recorded a below .500 mark of 5-6.