QUEBEC CITY, Quebec (August 19, 2022) -- The Canadian Women’s 3x3 Team went 2-1 in Day 1 action at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Quebec Stop 2022 on Friday. Thanks to victories against the Czech Republic and the United States, the Canada women advance directly to the semifinals on Saturday.

Though Canada is without veterans Michelle Plouffe and Katherine Plouffe on this tour stop, Rosalie Mercille, who recently won gold for Canada in 3x3 at the Commonwealth Games, and Maël Gilles joined Paige Crozon and Kacie Bosch to put in a solid day-one effort.

In the team’s first game of the day, they took care of the Czech Republic 18-7 behind a 12-point performance from Crozon, the fifth-ranked player in the world. With Canada leading 4-2, Crozon hit a free throw and then a two-pointer to extend the lead to five points, 7-2, with 5:45 remaining.

After the Czech Republic got within three points after a jumper from Anna Rosecka, Canada closed the game on a 9-1 run, led by Crozon who hit three more two-point shots to secure the victory.

The team’s lone loss came against Spain as Canada struggled to find their shooting touch in a 13-10 loss. Gilles led Canada with seven points, matching Spain’s Marta Canella for high-scoring honours.

Both teams struggled to score early, as Crozon delivered a cross-court pass to Bosch who nailed a two-point shot to tie the game at four points apiece with 5:36 remaining. After a four-point run from Spain, Gilles scored inside for Canada, but Canella responded with a two of her own to keep Spain in front by five with 2:35 remaining. Canella and Gilles would continue to trade baskets in the final minute of the game, with Gilles hitting a two-point shot to get Canada within three points with three seconds remaining, but it was too late as Canada ran out of time to complete a comeback.

This series stop is the 3x3 debut for Gilles, but you wouldn’t have known it after her seven-point, eight-rebound performance in Canada’s 13-12 bounce-back victory against the U.S. in the final game of Day 1 action in Quebec. Mercille added five rebounds as the two quickly adjusted to playing alongside Crozon and Bosch.

This was Canada’s third straight victory against the U.S. this season. After Gilles scored with ease to start the game, she was fouled while making a layup to tie the game at three points apiece. Gilles made the free throw to complete the two-point play, putting Canada ahead 4-3 with 8:32 remaining. Bosch went to work in the post, scoring to give Canada a two-point lead before Cierra Burdick scored at the rim to get the U.S. back within a point with 5:50 remaining.

Bosch found Crozon alone under the hoop and she scored on a layup, Bosch continued to create extra possessions for Canada, getting steals and crashing the glass for offensive rebounds off of missed shots. One of those offensive rebounds led to Bosch hitting a two-pointer to put Canada in front 8-4 with 4:46 on the clock. After Gilles found Crozon inside and then hit another shot herself, it was 11-5 Canada with 3:41 remaining.

The U.S. then reeled off a 5-0 run thanks, in part, to a trio of free throws to get back within a point, 11-10, until Gilles scored at the end of the shot clock to keep Canada ahead by two.

A pair of free throws from Joanne Allen-Taylor tied the game at 12 points apiece with 1:38 remaining, but again, it was Gilles to come through under pressure. Calmly drilling a pull-up jumper, Gilles put the Canadians ahead by a point with 1:13 remaining. With the game on the line and cognizant of not wanting to send the U.S. to the line, Canada closed things out in the final minute by playing tough defence without fouling.

Canada will face the winner of quarterfinals game 3 at 1:10 p.m. ET in the event semifinals on Saturday, Aug. 20. Fans can catch all of the action live on FIBA’s YouTube channel.