Summer Universiade women’s basketball (Aug. 18): Aussies too much for Canucks

Photo credit Freestyle Photography

SHENZHEN, China (CIS) – The Canadian women’s basketball team (2-2) lost 79-44 to Australia (4-0) on Thursday in the quarter-finals at the 26th Summer Universiade.

STATISTICS: CAN v.s. AUS

Despite the final score, the squad played an energetic and closely-fought contest against one of the top teams in the tournament through the first 20 minutes at the lively Gymnasium of Foreign Languages School.

Lisa Thomaidis, Team Canada and University of Saskatchewan head coach, commented, “I thought that the first half was the best basketball this team has played. We played tough defence and execute well on offence. In the second half, we could not sustain as Australia is a very good team and took advantage of their size.”

The turning point was the start of the second half. Canada scored the first bucket to cut the Aussies lead to 41-32 and then went scoreless for the next 7:30 of the third quarter. In that span, Australia dominated in the paint with numerous lay-ups as Canada switched to zone defence to no avail. The 19-0 run killed any chances for a comeback by the red and white squad and extinguished any drama for the remainder of the game.

For Team Canada, a strong 5-0 start of the game was met by a 14-0 run by Australia and they never held the lead again. After one, Australia led 25-14. In the second Canada clawed back to 29-25 at the midway point buoyed by a three pointer by Kendel Ross of Sarnia, Ont. and crisp execution on offence. After another 6-0 run by Australia, both teams traded baskets and at the half, Australia led 41-30.

Ross led the Canadians in scoring with 15 points and eight rebounds in over 33 minutes. Justine Colley of East Preston, N.S. added ten points and four boards while four Aussies were in double figures in points. Canada was dominated in the paint as Australia held a 54-16 margin of points in the paint and overall rebounds of 60-34.

“Australia has a big team and had second chance points in the third quarter run and our good looks did not fall,” said Ross. “Australia is a top notch team but I liked our effort tonight. We definitely have to learn from this second half and want to go after Finland tomorrow and play to win.”

Canada now plays Finland (2-2) on Friday at 8:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. ET) in the consolation side for positions fifth to eighth. The winner will advance to the fifth-sixth place contest on Saturday.