Kayla Alexander led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds for Canada’s senior women’s national basketball team in their opening game of the FIBA Olympic pre-qualifying tournament against Senegal in Guadalajara, Mexico. Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb also contributed with 13 points each for Canada.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I think it’s a positive start for us. Beginning with a win is always encouraging. We displayed toughness and strong rebounding skills, especially against a formidable team like Senegal known for their prowess on the boards. It’s a great feeling to secure that initial victory.”
Canada’s dominance on the offensive glass was evident, outrebounding Senegal 15-8 in that area. Tara Wallack’s impressive four offensive rebounds further aided Canada in gaining extra possessions.
Swords made a significant impact early on, sinking three three-pointers in the first quarter to give Canada a comfortable lead. Despite Senegal’s resurgence in the third quarter, Canada maintained control throughout the game.
In terms of key statistics, Canada held a 26-14 advantage in points in the paint, shooting 52.5% from that zone. Points off turnovers were evenly matched at 11 each, while Senegal narrowly edged out Canada 31-29 in bench scoring.
Following a day off on Tuesday, Canada will next face the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.