Kayla Alexander led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds for Canada’s senior women’s national basketball team in their 72-57 victory over Senegal at the FIBA Olympic pre-qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb also contributed 13 points each.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting their toughness and strong rebounding against a challenging opponent like Senegal. Canada dominated the offensive boards with a 15-8 advantage, with Tara Wallack’s four offensive rebounds proving crucial in creating extra scoring opportunities.
Swords made an impact early on with three three-pointers in the first quarter, helping Canada establish a significant lead that they maintained throughout the game. Despite Senegal’s push in the third quarter, Canada’s strong presence in the paint, shooting efficiency, and even points off turnovers secured the win.
The team will have a day off before facing the Philippines on Wednesday evening.