TORONTO — The Ryerson Rams brought an end to the Western Mustangs' 12-game winning streak in an 85-73 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.

Headlining Ryerson's efforts against Western was third-year forward Jama Bin-Edward (Waterloo, Ont.) and fifth-year guard Hayley Robertson (Toronto) who each finished the game with 29 points. Marin Scotten (Ottawa, Ont.) would also drop 20 in the win. 

The Rams gained a quick five-point lead early in the first quarter, but a Mustangs 7-0 run would give the visitors a 16-14 edge near the end of the frame. A huge second quarter saw the Rams outscore Western 25-13, taking their biggest lead of the game with five minutes to play before halftime. Robertson's three-point shot at the end of the quarter secured a 39-29 lead for the Rams after 20 minutes of play, with Bin-Edward leading the way for Ryerson with 13 points and four rebounds. 

The Rams would pull ahead by 15 midway through the third, but the Mustangs closed the gap as the quarter progressed. Marin Scotten's buzzer-beating three kept the Rams ahead by four points heading into the final frame. 

Back-and-forth action in the fourth saw Ryerson pull ahead with a significant lead in the dying moments of the game. The Rams would eventually earn an 85-73 win over the visiting Mustangs, effectively bringing an end to Western's undefeated streak and extending their own to six games.

Robertson, Bin-Edward and Scotten would combine for 78 points in the win, netting 92 percent of the Rams' points in the game. 

"Whether it's leaning on one player to score 29 or eight players to score 10, our team will take what the defence gives us and make the most of it," says Rams head coach Carly Clarke on the dominant efforts of her players. "They pushed us in the third and fourth quarters… Those are great tests for us and it's good for us to hold on and get a win against a really good team."

Robertson's 19 second-half points gave the Rams a significant edge in what shaped up to be a tight matchup in the third quarter. She says the team adjusted and began capitalizing on Western's defensive play as the game progressed. 

"In the first half, they were really pressuring and going over screens which caused us to drive and go into the paint," says Robertson. "They started dropping and giving us that pull up. When they give us that pull up, we have to take our shots with confidence." 

The team will resume action next week on Wednesday, January 15th on the road against the Waterloo Warriors. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. at the Physical Activities Complex in Waterloo.