HANGZHOU, China (Sept. 8, 2024) - The Canadian 3x3 Women’s National Team fell 21-19 to the Netherlands in the semifinals of the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Final in Hangzhou, China on Sunday, ending their reign as two-time defending champions.

Cassandra Brown, Paige Crozon, Katherine Plouffe and Michelle Plouffe represented Canada in Hangzhou, with Brown filling in for Kacie Bosch. This was Canada’s second series stop event since competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Katherine Plouffe had seven points and nine rebounds in the loss against the Netherlands, while Michelle Plouffe added seven points and five rebounds. Janis Boonstra led the Netherlands with nine points in the victory as they made 8-of-9 free throws, taking advantage of Canada getting into foul trouble as they racked up 13 team fouls to just seven for the Netherlands.

Boonstra scored the first points of the game with a two-pointer for Netherlands. Michelle Plouffe’s first attempt from deep was off the mark and Boonstra scored a layup to give Netherlands a 3-0 lead with 9:35 remaining.

Noortje Driessen connected on a two-pointer to push the Netherlands lead to five points until Katherine Plouffe scored on an offensive putback. A baseline jumper, also from Katherine Plouffe, brought Canada within four, 8-4, with 7:29 remaining.

Katherine Plouffe brought Canada within five, 12-7, with 5:25 remaining, but Canada was called for a foul against Driessen to put the team over the foul limit. Driessen made both of her free throws and extended the Netherlands advantage to seven.

Canada trimmed the deficit after free throws from Brown and a two-pointer from Michelle Plouffe. A shot from Brown brought Canada within a point, 15-14, but the Netherlands upped their defensive pressure and stretched the lead back up to five, 20-15, just a point away from victory, with 1:13 remaining.

The Canadians made a furious push in the final minute to try to complete the comeback, but fell short.

A two-pointer from Crozon brought Canada within two, 20-18 with remaining. After a miss from the Netherlands, Katherine Plouffe scored on a layup to bring Canada within a point, 20-19 with 25 seconds remaining.

Canada had an opportunity from deep but couldn’t connect and had to foul Driessen with 2.3 seconds remaining. She sealed the victory for the Netherlands at the line.

In their first game of the day, Canada defeated China U23 21-11 in the quarterfinals behind a 10-point, five-rebound performance from Michelle Plouffe. Canada’s defence helped force China U23 into seven turnovers as the Canadians also held a 19-12 edge in rebounds, including 8-4 on the offensive glass.

After a close start, a two-pointer from Michelle Plouffe gave Canada a three-point, 8-5 lead with 7:11 remaining. Michelle Plouffe was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound and made a free throw to extend Canada’s lead to four points.

China U23 struggled to find an answer for Michelle Plouffe who continued to go to work inside, going off glass to give Canada the 11-6 lead with five minutes remaining.

A two from Michelle Plouffe extended Canada’s lead to seven, 14-7, with 3:58 remaining and then Brown found Katherine Plouffe inside for a layup. After back-to-back buckets for China U23’s JianPing Zhang, Michelle Plouffe hit her second two-pointer of the game to extend the lead to nine points with two minutes remaining.

A two-pointer from Crozon brought Canada within a point of victory, leading 20-11 with 1:21 remaining and then Crozon ended the game with a turnaround jumper to give Canada a 21-11 victory.

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