Kayla Alexander led the scoring with 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Canada’s senior women’s national basketball team kicked off the FIBA Olympic pre-qualifying tournament with a 72-57 victory over Senegal in Guadalajara, Mexico. Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb also contributed with 13 points each for the Canadian team.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I think it’s a good start for us. You always aim to begin with a win. I felt we played with resilience and excelled in rebounding. Senegal possesses strong rebounding skills, and it was rewarding to win that battle. It’s great to secure our first victory.”
Canada’s dominance on the offensive boards was notable, securing a 15-8 advantage. Tara Wallack’s individual effort in grabbing four offensive rebounds contributed significantly to Canada’s extended possessions.
Swords made an early impact by sinking three three-pointers in the first quarter, enabling Canada to establish a lead that reached 17 points. Despite Senegal mounting a comeback in the third quarter, Canada maintained control throughout the game.
In terms of statistics, Canada outscored Senegal 26-14 in the paint, shooting 52.5% from that zone. Points off turnovers were equal at 11, while Senegal narrowly led in bench scoring with a 31-29 margin.
The Canadian team will enjoy a day off on Tuesday before their next game against the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.