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 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 positive start for us. Starting with a win is always good. We displayed strong play and executed well on the boards. Senegal is known for their rebounding prowess, so winning that battle was crucial for us. It feels good to secure our first victory.”
Canada’s dominance on the offensive glass was notable, with a 15-8 advantage over Senegal. Tara Wallack’s four offensive rebounds contributed significantly to Canada’s ability to create extra scoring opportunities.
Swords made an early impact for Canada, sinking three three-pointers in the first quarter. Despite Senegal making a comeback attempt in the third quarter, Canada maintained control throughout the game, leading by as many as 17 points.
In terms of key statistics, Canada outscored Senegal 26-14 in points in the paint, shooting an impressive 52.5% from that area. Points off turnovers were even at 11, while Senegal narrowly edged out Canada in bench scoring with a 31-29 advantage.
Canada will enjoy a day off on Tuesday before their next matchup against the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.