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 Team Canada.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I think it’s a positive beginning for us. Winning the first game is always important. We displayed toughness and controlled the boards well. Senegal is known for their strong rebounding, so winning that battle was significant. It feels good to secure that initial victory.”
Canada’s dominance on the offensive glass was notable, holding a 15-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Tara Wallack’s effort stood out as she secured four offensive rebounds, providing Canada with extra scoring opportunities.
Swords made an early impact for Canada by hitting three three-pointers in the first quarter. Despite Senegal making a push in the third quarter, Canada maintained control throughout the game, leading by as much as 17 points.
The Canadian team outscored Senegal 26-14 in the paint, shooting an impressive 52.5% from that area. Points off turnovers were even at 11, with Senegal holding a slim 31-29 lead in bench scoring.
Canada will enjoy a day off on Tuesday before taking on the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
