Canada's 3x3 Women's National Team went undefeated in Day 1 action at the FIBA Women’s 3x3 Bordeaux Series Stop on Wednesday. After defeating Hungary 21-11 to start, Canada pulled out an 18-16 victory against France U24 later in the day to earn a ticket to Thursday’s quarterfinals.

Canada was represented by Kacie Bosch, Paige Crozon and Katherine Plouffe, along with Team Canada 5x5 veteran Jamie Scott who was filling in for Michelle Plouffe at the Bordeaux stop.

“It was so enjoyable to be able to play again in Bordeaux, France,” Crozon said. “It’s a beautiful venue and we had great support from the crowd. We had a new face with our team as Jamie was joining us. It was a really good opportunity to play with somebody different and I thought she did a fantastic job adjusting to the 3x3 game. Katherine, as per usual, provided a big presence inside which created many advantages and opened things up for our guards, including myself on the perimeter.”

In Canada’s first victory of the day, Plouffe led the way with nine points and eight rebounds while recording four highlights. Crozon added seven points and seven rebounds, as well as four highlights, while also blocking three shots and deflecting a few more for good measure.

“Kacie said, ‘I think you’ve had more blocks in that game than in the entire time I've known you,’ and I think that is true,” Crozon said. “We’ve been putting in a lot of work on defence and on being able to defend with your hands up and now I see why.”

Plouffe finished Day 1 action as the top scorer at the event as she scored 18 points over two games. Plouffe also ranked first in Top Player Value (21.7) and rebounds (17). Crozon was second in Top Player Value (17.8).

Though the game was close to start, A two-pointer from Crozon tied the game at seven points apiece. A drive from Plouffe moved Canada in front, 10-9 with 5:55 remaining. A bucket from Hungary’s Virág Weninger trimmed Canada’s lead to three, 13-10, with 4:36 remaining, but Canada closed the game on an 8-1 run as a free throw from Bosch sealed the victory, 21-11, with 2:21 remaining on the clock.

In Canada’s second victory of the day, they outlasted a tough defensive battle from France U24 behind a nine-point, nine-rebound effort from Plouffe as well as five points and five rebounds from Crozon.

“Even down the stretch, we’d pull ahead by one or two points and the France U24 Team would come in and hit a two point shot,” Crozon said. “It was an incredible game. They’re such a talented team and they play so hard so you know you can never let up because they play with so much pace and intensity. [It was] such a battle, such a grind, all game long.”

While Canada pulled away against Hungary, France U24 kept things close until the final seconds as the two teams traded leads and ties until a baseline drive for Bosch gave Canada a one-point lead, 12-11, with 2:06 remaining. Crozon gave Canada a three-point lead after scoring on back-to-back possessions, but Eve Wembanyama hit a two-pointer of her own to get France U24 within a point with 1:01 remaining.

After a bucket from Plouffe, Emma Peytour tied the game with 41 seconds remaining, but buckets for Crozon and Plouffe kept Canada in front by two, 18-16, as time expired.

“We were able to find our flow and find the back of the rim near the end of the game when it counted,” Crozon said.

Plouffe was 8-for-14 from inside the arc as she recorded four highlights in the win.

Next up, the Canadians will face Neftchi in the Bordeaux Series Stop quarterfinals on Thursday, July 20, at 11:25 a.m. ET/8:25 a.m. PT.

Fans can catch all of the action streaming live on the FIBA YouTube channel.