Following a dominant win over Brazil in their first group game, the Canadian U16 women’s team returned to action on Tuesday afternoon, destroying their opponents Costa Rica by a final score of 112-25.
The win moves Canada to 2-0 and to the top of Group A, and drops the struggling Costa Rica to 0-2 following a pair of blowout losses.
Canada’s offensive attack was as balanced as could be on Tuesday, with 10 players scoring 5+ points and 5 players scoring in double-digits. Small forward Cassandre Prosper led the way with a dominant 24 points on 10/16 shooting, as well as 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Delaney Gibb scored 14 to go alongside 4 rebounds and 3 assists, while Summer Bostock impressed off of the bench with 14 points and 6 rebounds. As a team Canada shot 51.6% from the field in what largely consisted of fast break points and open looks, and held Costa Rica to 20% from the floor with suffocating defence.
Canada came out of the gates firing on the afternoon and never looked back. They led 24-8 after an up-and-down first quarter and took a 49-15 lead into the break. The biggest point differential came in the third quarter, where the Canadians outscored the Costa Ricans by a whopping 37-2, putting the game far out of reach and allowing for them to rotate their squad and give some minutes to players who may not typically get an opportunity.
The layout for the FIBA U16 Americas Tournament is one where every team from group play advances, meaning Canada can use these group games as tune-ups more than anything else. There are 8 teams in the tournament split into two groups of 4, and the first place team in Group A will get to play the last place team in Group B in the quarterfinals, giving the Canadians some incentive to win their final group match tomorrow and get awarded the most favourable draw possible in the bracket.
Moving forward, Team Canada will face second place Puerto Rico to determine the group winner Wednesday afternoon, while Costa Rica will try to salvage a win in their final group game against another winless squad in Brazil.
GAME STATS:
Canada:
Prosper – 24 PTS 9 REB 2 AST
Gibb – 14 PTS 4 REB 3 AST
Bostock – 14 PTS 6 REB 1 AST
Pemberton – 11 PTS 3 REB 1 AST
CANADA VS. COSTA RICA BOXSCORE
Photos Courtesy FIBA/Canada Basketball
