The Canadian U16 women’s national team earned a silver medal at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship after losing to U.S.A. 118-45.
Canada struggled to find consistency on offence and turned the ball over 31 times. Even the tournament’s leading scorer coming into this game, Cassandre Prosper was held to just 13 points and five rebounds. Marina Radocaj stayed consistent and scored 10 points while grabbing four rebounds.
Delany Gibb, Canada’s second-leading scoring at 16 points a game was held to just two points by the American defence
Jaloni Cambridge carried the load offensively early in the game for the Americans on her way to an 18 point performance but JuJu Watkins exploded for 28 points, three assists and five steals in the second quarter to propel the U.S.A. to victory.
The Americans also dominated on the glass grabbing 61 rebounds to Canada’s 37 leading to America running the ball in transition where they began to grow the lead scoring 35 fast break points and 78 points in the paint. Jaydn Donovan led all rebounders with nine, while also scoring 14 points.
This win marks the third straight gold medal for the Americans and they have won every FIBA U16 Americas Championship except for 2015 where Canada won the gold.
This is Canada’s fifth silver medal at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship and the Canadian women have finished on the podium every year since the event began in 2009. The team will now begin to focus on the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary where the Canadians haven’t medaled since 2012.
CANADA VS. USA BOXSCORE
Photo Courtesy FIBA/Canada Basketball
