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 against Senegal in Guadalajara, Mexico. Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb contributed 13 points each for Canada.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I think it’s a positive beginning for us. Starting with a win is always ideal. We displayed toughness and excelled in rebounding. Senegal is known for their strong presence on the boards, so winning that battle was crucial for us.”
Canada’s dominance on the offensive glass was highlighted by a 15-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Tara Wallack’s efforts with four offensive boards significantly aided Canada in gaining extra possessions.
Swords made an early impact by sinking three three-pointers in the first quarter, helping Canada establish a lead that reached as high as 17 points. Despite a push from Senegal in the third quarter, Canada maintained control throughout the game.
In terms of key statistics, Canada outscored Senegal 26-14 in points in the paint, shooting at 52.5% efficiency from that area. Points off turnovers were even at 11, with Senegal holding a slight 31-29 lead in bench scoring.
Following a day off on Tuesday, Canada is set to face the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET in their next tournament matchup.
