LIMA, PERU (August 9, 2019) – Team Canada finishes in sixth place at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games after a 54-59 loss to Argentina today.

Click here for the box score.

Shaina Pellington had a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds for Canada in the loss. Jamie Scott and Ruth Hamblin both finished with eight points, while Scott recorded a game-high 12 rebounds and Hamblin had 11 of her own. Andrea Boquete also had a game-high 18 points for Argentina in the win.

Canada and Argentina traded shots to open the first quarter until Argentina went on a 6-0 run and built a 14-6 advantage with just under three minutes to go. By the end of the quarter, Argentina was up 17-9.

In the second quarter, Canada and Argentina were continuously tied and when they were not, Canada kept the lead to under four points. It was not until late in the third quarter Argentina managed to break away on 12-0 run leaving the Canadians to enter the fourth quarter down 31-45.  

Canada continued to put up a fight in the fourth quarter. With 0:52 seconds left on the clock, Team Canada was down just 52-55 and the possibility of winning was within reach. Unfortunately, Argentina stretched the lead once again and scored four points in the last 50 seconds. A last-second two-point shot from Pellington was not enough and Argentina secured the fifth-place spot.

Canada qualified for Lima 2019 with a gold medal at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2017.  The field for the 2019 Pan American Games basketball competition includes the top six teams from the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2017 (Canada, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Brazil, U.S. Virgin Islands, Paraguay and Colombia), along with Olympic champion, United States, and the host country, Peru.

The Pan Am Games basketball competition does not have a direct impact on qualification for Tokyo 2020 but will serve as an important step in preparing for the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2019 in September as Canada begins the qualification process for the Olympic Games.

Lima 2019, which will run from July 26 to August 11, will bring together approximately 6,700 athletes from 41 nations of the Americas and feature 62 disciplines in 39 sports. It will be the largest sporting event ever held in Peru.

Click here for the roster.

QUOTES

“I thought we did a good job battling in this game and continuing to stay alive. One stretch late in the third quarter really proved to be the difference for us. I think it showed what has been a pattern for us at the Pan-Am games. which is needing to find a way to play 40 minutes while staying consistent. We showed that we had the heart and fight to get back in it, but digging out of a hole can be such a challenge. Overall, I thought the experience was a positive one. I am really pleased with how the team came together and competed. We gave ourselves a shot at each of the games, but obviously, we are very disappointed at the outcome. We had come in with the same mindset as probably everyone else; getting ourselves on the podium. So to fall short of that really does sting. But we're going to take the positives from this as well as the growth we had as a group and keep moving forward.” – Steve Baur

“It’s disappointing to come out with a loss today. I felt like we really rallied today after a tight turnaround. The girls showed a lot of heart out there. It's hard to come out with a loss especially after making that run in the fourth quarter, but credit to Argentina. They’re a veteran and experienced team who have played together for a long time. That really showed at the end of the game. I think we can just learn from this experience and continue to grow as players, as a team and individually. Overall the Pan-American Games is an incredible experience. It’s really great to be part of Team Canada as a collective and see the spirit that comes from that. We have tremendous pride playing Canadian basketball, but when we all come together it just seems so much bigger than life. It’s an honour to wear Canada across our chest and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. – Ruth Hamblin

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