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 on Monday. Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb contributed 13 points each for the Canadian team.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I think it’s a positive start for us. Starting with a win is always good. We played tough and excelled on the boards. Senegal is known for their strong rebounding, so winning that battle was a significant achievement for us.”
Canada’s dominance on the offensive glass was notable, securing a 15-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Tara Wallack’s contribution with four offensive rebounds further bolstered Canada’s possession game.
Swords’ early display of prowess, sinking three three-pointers in the first quarter, helped Canada establish control. Despite Senegal’s resurgence in the third quarter, Canada maintained their lead throughout the game.
The Canadian team outscored Senegal 26-14 in the paint, shooting at an impressive 52.5% from that area. Both teams scored 11 points off turnovers, while Senegal narrowly edged Canada 31-29 in bench scoring.
Canada will enjoy a rest day on Tuesday before taking on the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.