TORONTO (February 6, 2010) – Katie Gurthrie of Orillia, Ont., recorded 24 points, but her effort went for naught as the Queen's Gaels lost to the Toronto Varsity Blues 70-61 on Saturday in OUA women's basketball.

The loss puts Queen's into a three-way tie for second place in the OUA East with Laurentian and Ryerson. All three teams have 24 points and a 12-8 record. The Gaels close out the regular season next weekend at home against the fifth place Ottawa Gee Gees and the first place Carleton Ravens.

Gurthrie shared the game high in points with Varsity Blues' Nicki Schutz of Toronto. Schutz was also the game's top rebounder with 11.

Gurthrie was 7 for 12 from the floor and 9 for 12 from the free-throw line. Brittany Moore of Hannon, Ont., dropped 16 points in 38 minutes of play and tallied three, three-pointers. She now has 58 three-pointers which sits her in second in the CIS. Erin Skippon of Kelowna, B.C. was Queen's top rebounder with seven.

Toronto opened the game with a 23-14 lead after the first quarter, but the Gaels used a 10-point run in the second quarter to move within two points heading into the half. In the third point, the Gaels nudged ahead by a single point to earn their first lead of the game 54-53. Toronto bounced back to finish the game with 17 points while the Gaels would only tally seven to finish 70-61.

Queen's shot 38.6% from the floor while Toronto shot 35.9%.