Team Canada’s senior women’s national basketball squad secured a strong start in the FIBA Olympic pre-qualifying tournament by defeating Senegal 72-57 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Kayla Alexander led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds, supported by Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb who contributed 13 points each.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of starting the tournament with a victory. Canada displayed resilience on the boards, a key factor against Senegal’s renowned rebounding prowess.
The Canadian team excelled in offensive rebounding, outscoring Senegal 15-8 in that category. Tara Wallack’s four offensive rebounds significantly contributed to creating extra scoring opportunities for Canada. Swords’ sharp shooting from beyond the arc early in the game helped establish a commanding lead, though Senegal mounted a comeback in the third quarter.
Canada maintained control throughout the game, leading by as much as 17 points and dominating in points in the paint with a 26-14 advantage. The team shot an impressive 52.5% from inside, while turnovers resulted in equal points for both teams. Senegal narrowly edged out Canada in bench scoring 31-29.
Next, Canada will face the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET after enjoying a day off on Tuesday.