Strong start for Canada, Puerto Rico, USA and Colombia at the Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournament

EDMONTON (Canada) / BAHÍA BLANCA (Argentina) - Canada and Puerto Rico, in Group A, USA and Colombia, in Group B, added important wins on the first day of the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournament.

 
At the Edmonton EXPO Center, the host showed its power and dominated Cuba for a 110-53 win, in Group A.

Kia Nurse led Canada with 28 points, Miranda Ayim contributed 14 and three other players added 10 points.

The Cuban fought evenly during the first seven minutes of the match, but then Canada brought out its various weapons and took the reins of the game, scoring primarily in transition and from the painted area.

The Canadians, who controlled all quarters of the game, dominated the battle for the rebounds 57-33 and various offensive categories such as points after losses (27-9), fastbreak points (31-0) and points from the paint (50-24).

Anisleidy Galindo and Yamara Amargo were the best for the Cuban team with 12 points each.

For its part, Puerto Rico took the court with intensity and dominated the Dominican Republic for a 108-58 win.

The Puerto Ricans opened the game with a 12-0 run and won the first quarter with a score of 35-9, with great efficiency in their shots. In that first quarter, the team coached by Gerardo Batista scored seven three-pointers in 11 attempts and 10 free-throws in 11 attempts.

The Boricuas never let go of the intensity and kept adding to the difference during the remaining quarters.

Puerto Rico had a dream game, shooting for 52 percent from the field, including 32-18 in three-pointers (56%). From the free-throw line, the Boricuas scored 24 of 29 attempts for 83 percent.

Four players added double digits. Isalys Quiñonez led the offense with 20 points and seven rebounds. Anuska Maldonado contributed 17, Pamela Rosado 16 (four three-pointers) and Jennifer O'Neill 10 points.

In Bahia Blanca, USA was led offensively by amazing performances from Sylvia Fowles and Chelsea Gray, to defeat Brazil 76-61.

Fowles dominated the paint, scoring 21 points and capturing six rebounds, while Gray, who also contributed 21 points, was effective from the perimeter with four three-pointers in five attempts. The forward completed its good performance with eight assists.

Brazil controlled the first quarter with a 15-10 score, but in the following quarters, the North Americans set the pace of the game.

For Brazil, center Erika De Souza finished with an 11-point and 12-rebound “double-double”. Damiris Dantas added 11 points and Débora Costa scored 10.

In the other game of the day, Colombia stunned Argentina with a 67-63 win.

A three-point play from Manuela Ríos gave Colombia a 65-62 lead with 35 seconds left. Two free-throws from Jennifer Muñoz gave the visiting team the win over the host.

Colombia played a perfect first half and went to half-time with a 38-28 lead; nevertheless, Argentina in the third quarter showed intensity on defense and took a one-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter. The Gigantes paid dearly for their 25 turnovers, and Colombia took full advantage for 27 points.

Mabel Martínez, with 23 points was the top scorer for the Colombians. Muñoz followed her with 17 points and Ríos added 10. Center Agostina Burani was the top performer for Argentina with 29 points and 10 rebounds.

The FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournament will resume on Saturday when Cuba faces the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico takes-on Canada. Meanwhile, in Bahia Blanca, Colombia will face Brazil and the USA faces Argentina.

FIBA