Kayla Alexander led the charge with 16 points and seven rebounds as the Canadian senior women’s national basketball team kicked off the FIBA Olympic pre-qualifying tournament with a strong 72-57 victory against Senegal in Guadalajara, Mexico. Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb also contributed with 13 points each for Canada.
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 encouraging. We showcased toughness and executed well on the boards. Senegal is known for their strong rebounding skills, so winning that battle was significant. It feels great to secure our first victory.”
Canada’s dominance on the offensive glass was notable, holding a 15-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Tara Wallack’s efforts in securing four offensive boards contributed to Canada’s ability to create more scoring opportunities.
Swords made an early impact for Canada, hitting three three-pointers in the first quarter to set the tone. Despite Senegal’s resurgence in the third quarter, Canada maintained control throughout the game, leading by as much as 17 points.
The Canadian team also outperformed in the paint, holding a 26-14 advantage in points scored close to the basket with a 52.5% shooting accuracy. Both teams scored 11 points off turnovers, while Senegal narrowly edged Canada 31-29 in bench scoring.
Canada will enjoy a day off on Tuesday before taking on the Philippines on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET in their next tournament matchup.