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. 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 ideal. We displayed toughness and dominance on the boards, especially against Senegal, known for their strong rebounding skills. Winning that battle was significant for us. It feels great to secure that initial victory.”
Canada’s dominance on the offensive glass was notable, with a 15-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Tara Wallack’s efforts in securing four offensive rebounds contributed significantly to Canada’s possession control.
Swords was instrumental in Canada’s early lead, sinking three three-pointers in the first quarter. Despite Senegal’s surge 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 points in the paint, shooting at an impressive 52.5% from that area. Both teams scored 11 points off turnovers, while Senegal held a slight 31-29 edge in bench scoring.
Following a day off on Tuesday, Canada will face the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET in the next tournament matchup.