France’s home crowd was just too much for Canada in its opening game at the Olympics
Canada lost to the host nation 75-54 on Monday and fell to last place in Group B due to point differential.
Though Canada held the lead early on, winning the first quarter 18-15, a brutal second that saw the team score only two points gave France a lead it wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.
France’s defence was creating some serious pressure, forcing 25 turnovers from the Canadians. Couple that with Canada’s shot just not falling, and it was a recipe for disaster in the opening match.
Canada will get a chance at redemption against World No. 3 Australia on Thursday.
Follow along here for all the key moments in Canada’s opening match against France.
Fourth quarter
End of the fourth quarter: France 75, Canada 54
• 0:51 — Syla Swords scores the first points of her Olympic career, drawing the foul under the basket after a sweet cut then hits both looks from the charity stripe. She then followed it up with a nice lay-up on the next possession for her first field goal. 73-52 Canada.
• 2:58 — Sadly, Canada’s shooting form is inconsequential as France retakes a 22-point lead off a corner three from Aleriane Ayayi. That make was also created by yet another offensive foul turnover by Canada. The more things change, the more they stay the same. 69-47 France.
• 5:16 — At last, Canada’s shot seems to be falling. Bridget Carleton drains the team’s second-straight 3-pointer to cut into France’s lead and dig the team out of a big hole should it want to advance to the knockout stage. 61-44 France.
• 10:00 — With Canada down 17 and the game all but over, the team is sending out their youngsters to get some run as Swords and 19-year-old Cassandre Prosper of Notre Dame both check-in. Both are expected to be contributors for the women’s team for years to come but may not be the best option if winning is the intention today against France.
Third quarter
End of the third quarter: France 53, Canada 36
• 2:25 — Canada with its third offensive foul in the last three minutes, once again struggling with turnovers and not taking advantage of their possessions and steady defence in this quarter. 50-35 France.
• 5:07 — Canada doing a much better job here of turning defence into offence. Solid perimeter and paint defence are forcing France into tougher shots and giving Canada some opportunities on the fast break. Cutting into the big deficit with a 6-0 run midway through the third. 46-33 France.
• 9:48 — Bridget Carleton opens up the second half for Canada and gets them on the board with a big 3-pointer, the team’s first of the game. Canada has already scored more points in the third quarter than it did in the second. 38-23 France.
Second quarter
HALF TIME STAT SURGE:
• Canada is struggling from the field, shooting only 29 per cent for the half on 9-for-31 from the field and 0-for-8 from 3-point range. On the other hand, France is hitting 42 per cent of its looks on 15-for-36 from the field and 3-for-13 from deep. Also not great, but the bar is low.
• Canada has also been unable to set up their offence, turning the ball over 12 times as opposed to France’s two.
End of the second quarter: France 38, Canada 20
• 0:00 — Not great! Canada down 18 going into the half after scoring a paltry two points in the second quarter and allowing 23 to France. As expected, Marine Johannes led the way for the host nation with seven points while Shay Colley matched it with seven of her own for Canada.
• 1:29 — That was brutal for Canada, finally scoring its first points of the second quarter with just under a minute and a half to go. Went into the quarter up three but are now down 16 after allowing a 21-0 run to France. 36-20 France.
• 7:04 — 18-year-old Sudbury, Ont., native Syla Swords checks into the game for the first time in her young Olympic career. She grabs an offensive rebound, beating out the bigger players, but is unable to hit the second-chance 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Fearless, that’s what you want to see from her. 25-18 France.
First quarter
End of the first quarter: Canada 18, France 15
• 2:19 — WNBA rookie Aaliyah Edwards checks in and makes her impact felt right away, picking up a block on Alexia Chery and then a sweet deflection on the perimeter. She’s everywhere so far. 14-12 Canada.
• 5:21 — Following an 8-0 run from France earlier in the quarter, Canada ties the game back up at 10 apiece with a tough physical finish from Kia Nurse in transition and draws the foul for the and-one. The first points of the game for the fan favourite team captain. 10-10 Canada.
• 9:46 — Shay Colley nets the first basket of the game as Natalie Achonwa finds her on a nice cut and feeds it down low to finish at the rim and draw the foul. The ball is moving well for Canada on the first play of the game.
• 10:00 — Canada’s Kayla Alexander wins the opening tip and we’re off!
In a thrilling opening game of the women’s basketball tournament, France emerged victorious over Canada in a closely contested match. The game, which took place at the Olympic Park in Tokyo, showcased the talent and skill of both teams as they battled it out on the court.
France got off to a strong start, taking an early lead in the first quarter with their sharp shooting and solid defense. Canada, however, fought back in the second quarter, narrowing the gap and keeping the game competitive. The two teams traded baskets throughout the third quarter, with neither able to pull away.
In the final quarter, France managed to pull ahead thanks to some clutch plays from their star players. Their teamwork and determination proved to be the difference as they held off a late surge from Canada to secure the win.
The victory for France is a promising start to their campaign in the women’s basketball tournament. With this win under their belt, they will look to build momentum and continue their winning ways in the upcoming games.
On the other hand, Canada will look to bounce back from this loss and regroup for their next match. Despite the defeat, they showed resilience and determination throughout the game, and will be looking to make a strong comeback in their next outing.
Overall, the opening game between France and Canada was a thrilling display of women’s basketball at its finest. Both teams showcased their talent and skill, making for an exciting and competitive match that kept fans on the edge of their seats. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see how these two teams fare against their competition and if they can continue to impress on the court.