CHARLEROI, Belgium (July 14, 2024) - The Senior Women’s National Team fell to host team Belgium 81-51 on Sunday in the team’s third exhibition game before the Paris Olympics.

Shay Colley led Canada with 11 points while Kayla Alexander added a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double and Cassandre Prosper added nine points in the loss.

Emma Meesseman had a game-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists for Belgium. Bethy Mununga added 15 points.

Canada shot just 29 percent in the loss, giving up 57 percent shooting to Belgium who finished with a 19-1 edge in fast break points as well as a 26-10 advantage in points scored off turnovers. Canada had 26 turnovers in the game, compared to 16 turnovers for Belgium. Canada outrebounded Belgium 38-30, including 15-6 on the offensive glass.

Although the Canadians led early, moving ahead 8-4 after a long jumper from Colley, back-to-back scores for Belgium tied the game midway through the first quarter. After a miss from Nirra Fields from deep, Alexander grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled. She made both of her free throws to move Canada back in front, 10-8, with 4:27 remaining in the opening quarter.

After trading free throws, Belgium led by one. They wouldn’t trail again.

Belgium closed the quarter with a steal and score to take a five-point advantage, 20-15, into the second quarter. Laure Resimont connected on a three to open the quarter and extend Belgium’s advantage to eight points. Prosper drove the baseline and scored while being fouled. A second bucket from Prosper brought Canada within four as Belgium called a timeout with 7:06 remaining in the half.

A three from Elise Ramette extended the Belgium lead back to seven, 30-23. After another three for Belgium extended the advantage to 11 points, Alexander scored out of a timeout to get Canada back within single digits as Belgium took a 36-28 advantage into the half.

Alexander led Canada with eight points and nine rebounds in the half, while Colley added seven points. Meesseman led all scorers with 10 points at the break.

Belgium scored first to open the second half. A basket from Meesseman extended the advantage to 14 points as Canada called a quick timeout with 8:37 remaining in the third.

Defensive pressure from Canada helped force Belgium into a turnover, but the Canadians couldn’t convert on the other end. Canada went with younger players to close the third, giving extended minutes to Prosper, Swords and Yvonne Ejim as Belgium took a 60-40 advantage into the fourth.

Belgium opened the fourth with a three from Resimont, extending the advantage to 23 points. Canada struggled to score to start the final quarter. A baseline drive from Prosper, followed by a three-pointer from Swords made it 65-46 with 6:10 remaining. A second three from Swords trimmed the deficit to 18 points with 5:20 remaining, but Belgium closed the game strong as the lead swelled to 30 points as time expired.

Canada will now travel to Spain where they will continue their exhibition schedule with games against Australia and Spain before they arrive in Paris