BOXSCORE

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (June 14, 2022) - The Canadian U18 Women’s National Team picked up a dominant 80-38 victory over Brazil on Tuesday for their second straight victory at the FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship 2022 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“This was a big win for us, a chance to control our fate, moving forward in the rest of pool play,” Team Canada head coach Steve Baur said. “Brazil did a really great job in the first half on their offensive glass and it really set up a challenge for us at halftime to meet that. Our athletes had a great response owning the defensive glass which allowed us to get out in transition and get some easy buckets. We used the easy points to create some momentum and create some separation going into the fourth quarter.”

Brazil held an early 6-3 lead until Canadian Emma Koabel’s second three-pointer of the game began a 19-2 Canada run to close the first quarter. Canada had a 22-8 lead after the opening 10 minutes. They wouldn't trail in the game again.

Canada was led by a 15-point performance from T’yana Todd, as well as 14 points from Koabel, who connected on four three-pointers in the game. Lemyah Hylton made her presence felt all over the court, especially in the third quarter where Canada broke the game open. Hylton finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Marah Dykstra recorded a game-high 15 rebounds and Fatima Diakhaté added 10 points and seven rebounds in the win.

“I think starting out the game, we really went in there with a dog mentality. We all came together and really contributed,” Hylton said. “Everybody scored, everybody was on the boards today. Everybody participated and did our part. I think that’s really what led us to our win today. Our energy was high. We went in with a bench-mob mentality as well. We took our scout and everything that we talked about in our meetings and we really translated it on the court and that’s really what made it so effective in the win today.”

Canada shot 34 percent in the game to just 20 percent for Brazil. One of the biggest differences in the game was beyond the arc where Canada made 9-of-31 attempts, compared to just one made three in 17 attempts from Brazil. Ana Paula de Oliveira led Brazil with 13 points in the loss.

Brazil scored the first eight points of the second quarter, before a three from Jasmine Bascoe stopped the run. From there, Canada picked up where they left off to end the first quarter and didn't look back. After a pair of free throws and then a three from Todd, Canada led by 12. Next up for Todd was a floater to give Canada the 38-25 lead at the half.

“[At] halftime we all discussed playing hard defence and playing in the passing lanes, getting steals and getting out,” Todd said.

After a solid first half, Canada came out even stronger on both ends of the floor in the third. A steal from Hylton led to Koabel’s fourth three of the game, and then it was Hylton to make a three of her own, extending the lead to 18 points. Next, Hylton found Bascoe on the run for a layup, and then it was Bascoe to Hylton for three, making the lead 23 points with 4:14 remaining in the quarter. Canada went into the fourth leading 63-32.

“It felt good,” Hylton said of her third quarter. “Especially with the players I have around me, I have Emma Koabel who runs the floor and I can always find her for a shot. I have Jas [Bascoe], who is always pushing the pace, and then I have my bigs that run the rim as well. Honestly It’s a full contribution from our whole team and it’s fun to play.”

The fourth quarter was all Canada as the Canadians outscored Brazil 17-6 in the quarter, leading by as many as 44 points en route to victory. Canada’s defence held Brazil to just 13 points in the second half, while Canada’s reserves outscored Brazil’s reserves in the game 40-7.  On the glass, Canada held a 70-49 edge in rebounding, including 28-18 in offensive rebounds.

Up next for Canada is a meeting with Argentina on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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