ARPAN KAUR // yorkulions.ca

The York University Lions women's basketball team kept their hopes for a home playoff game alive with a 82-79 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues at the Goldring Centre on Friday evening.
 
The Lions improve their record to 9-6 with the victory, and with the Queen's loss at Carleton, the Lions are now one win away from eclipsing them for fourth in the OUA East Division standings
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The contest began with a back-and-forth pace in which both sides exchanged buckets and kept the score close. The Lions, on the other hand, started the second half with a barrage of defensive plays, limiting the Blues to only 10 field goal attempts and forcing 17 turnovers.
• After embarking on a 5-0 run, the Lions' outstanding defence led to even better offence, as they took a 12-point advantage into halftime.
• The Blues came out of the break reinvigorated, as they discovered their stride early in the third quarter, going on a 19-7 run to tie the game at 59-59. Meanwhile, holding the Lions off by a 5:38 shooting drought.
• The fourth quarter was a competitive one, with the Blues finding answers with strong ball movement and active defence hands. Toronto went 4-7 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter to take a 79-75 lead. But soon after, Jada Codrington responded with a much-needed three-point play on a layup and drawing a foul in the process with 35 seconds left in regulation, to grab a 80-79 lead. Following that, the Lions would hold-off and win 82-79. 

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• The Lions were led by four of its players in double digits including Kiara Leveridge with 18 points, Cyanna King with 16 points, followed by Lauren Golding and Codrington both with 14 points each.
• The Blues were led by two of its top scorers, Ellen Ougrinov and Lauren Boers, who combined for 48 of the team's 79 points.
• The Lions force 24 turnovers, earning 27 points as a result.

LOOKING AHEAD
 
The Lions and Blues will battle it off once again on Saturday at Tait McKenzie Centre, with the Lions vying for a playoff seed. The final regular-season tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm.