The No. 5 nationally ranked Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's basketball team began their weekend in the nation's capital with a hard-fought 71-68 victory over the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.

Catrina Garvey led the Bold with 23 points, and Myriam Kone added 20.

The Bold opened strong on defence, applying heavy pressure on the Gee-Gees, much of it coming from Kait Nichols in her return to the starting lineup.

As Ottawa grew frustrated, the Bold capitalized by attacking the paint and drawing fouls, resulting in trips to the free-throw line. The Bold closed out the first quarter ahead, 20-12.

Looking to build a secure advantage, the Bold came out strong at the start of the second. Garvey continued to hone her shooting, finishing the first half with an impressive 16 points.

Hailey Franco DeRyck battled relentlessly on the boards, finishing the first half with nine rebounds and anchoring the Bold's strong defence.

Despite a late push from the Gee-Gees in the final minutes of the half, the Bold's early success gave them a 41-29 lead after the second.

Kone lit up the court at the start of the second half, going on an offensive surge. She scored both inside and beyond the perimeter, showcasing her versatility.

Ottawa's Bailey Russell quickly responded with a run of her own, but TMU held strong. Franco DeRyck produced an important block as part of her defensive performance. With 14 rebounds in the game, she moved into third all-time in career rebounds at TMU, passing Angela Tilk, who recorded 612 in her career from 2008-12. The Bold closed out the third quarter ahead by 10, 57-47.

The fourth quarter was a thriller, as Ottawa closed the gap. TMU struggled to find their offensive rhythm, allowing the Gee-Gees to chip away at the lead.

With 3:46 remaining, Russell hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two, putting pressure on TMU. Determined not to sacrifice their hard-earned first-half lead, the Bold responded with timely plays. Kone hit a three, while Nichols and Garvey added key jumpers to keep TMU in front.

With four seconds left, Jessica Keripe calmly sank two free throws. A late foul by TMU gave Russell and Ottawa one final chance, but Franco DeRyck secured the defensive rebound, sealing TMU's 71-68 win.

The Bold will continue their weekend in Ottawa when they face the Carleton Ravens on Saturday, Jan. 17. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at the Ravens' Nest. Watch the action on OUA.tv.