BOXSCORE

DEBRECEN, HUNGARY (July 16, 2022) - The Canadian U17 Women’s National Team fell to the United States 87-57 on Saturday in the Semifinals of the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 in Hungary.

Canada was led by an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double for Cassandre Prosper who also had eight blocks in the game. Toby Lee Fournier had 10 points and Summer Bostock added eight points in the loss.

The U.S. was led by a game-high 14 points from Mackenly Randolph while JuJu Watkins added 13 points. Morgan Cheli, Jaloni Cambridge and Jadyn Donovan added 10 points apiece for the U.S. who will advance to the gold medal game against Spain on Sunday.

A dominant start from the U.S. put the game out of reach for Canada, despite a competitive final three quarters. The U.S. jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Fournier assisted on a three-pointer from Syla Swords to get Canada on the board. With Canada trailing 5-3, the U.S. reeled off 16 straight points to build a 21-3 lead as Canada went scoreless from the floor for nearly five and a half minutes of action. After the opening 10 minutes, the US led Canada 27-9.

Canada finished with 29 turnovers in the game, including 12 in the first quarter as the U.S. pulled away. In comparison, the U.S. turned the ball over just 13 times and held a 31-6 edge in points scored off turnovers. Canada shot 32 percent from the floor, compared to 39 percent shooting for the U.S. Canada recorded 13 blocked shots in the game, eight coming from Prosper alone, to just two blocks from the U.S.

Prosper opened second-quarter scoring with a pair of free throws for Canada. She recorded back-to-back blocks on the defensive end and then hit a floater to make it 27-13 with 7:23 remaining in the half as the U.S. called timeout. After a layup from Randolph, Prosper responded with a three-pointer, getting Canada within 15 points with 3:28 remaining in the half.

The U.S. won the second quarter by only a point, 18-17, but led 45-26 at the half, thanks to the advantage built in the first quarter.

The U.S. opened the second half on an 11-2 run to extend their advantage to 56-28 with 6:17 to go in the third quarter. Sumer Lee followed up a block with a pair of free throws to begin a 6-0 run by Canada to get within 24 points with 4:37 remaining in the quarter. The Canadians closed the quarter with a free throw from Ajok Deng Obed Madol and then an offensive rebound and putback from Summer Bostock to go into the fourth trailing 67-42.

Canada scored first in the fourth on a pair of free throws from FournIer, but the U.S. responded with a three from Watkins and then a layup from Breya Cunningham to extend their lead to 72-44. A three-pointer from Cambridge gave the U.S. a 31-point lead, the largest of the game, with 7:44 remaining and the U.S. went on to collect the victory from there.

Up next for Canada is the bronze medal game against France at 11:30 am ET on Sunday, July 17.