CANADA’S U23 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM REMAINS UNDEFEATED AT GLOBL JAM WITH VICTORY OVER TEAM USA (LOUISVILLE)

TORONTO, Ont. (July 13, 2023) - Canada’s U23 Women’s National Team defeated Team USA 74-71 on Thursday at Mattamy Athletic Centre to remain undefeated in GLOBL Jam action. Louisville Women’s Basketball is representing Team USA in this year’s GLOBL Jam tournament.

Shy Day-Wilson led Canada with a team high 14 points. The 5-foot-6 guard also added five rebounds, five assists and six steals.

“I just play with heart,” she said. “I might not be the biggest, but Imma play with heart and I think I played with heart today.”

Sarah Te-Biasu had 10 points on 5-for-6 field goals and Keishana Washington added eight points as Canada used a strong start to the fourth quarter to pull away and get the victory.

“I like playing with [Te-Biasu and Washington],” Day-Wilson said. “They’re dynamic guards like myself and it takes a lot of load off me. It helps me, they bring up the ball and they can score, too.”

Team USA was led by a 19-point performance from Kiki Jefferson and 15 points from Olivia Cochran in the loss.

After leading 25-20 after the opening 10 minutes, Canada struggled to score in the second quarter as Team USA held the Canadians to just 10 points  as they regained the lead to take a 39-35 advantage into the half.

“I think we started off well and then we went through a little hump, but we went to the locker room and discussed as a team what we needed to execute and get better on,” Day Wilson said. “I think we came out in the second half and we played together.”

Canada regained control in the third, winning the quarter 16-11 as both teams struggled to score for the first half of the quarter.

Phillipina Kyei scored inside to cut the deficit to three, 42-39 with eight minutes remaining in the third. Brynn Masikewich scored inside off of a broken play to get Canada within a point as Team USA called timeout with 6:32 remaining in the third.

A steal from Washington led to a layup for Te-Biasu to give Canada a one-point lead with 4:48 remaining but free throws from Nina Rickards and Merissah Russell moved USA back in front until back-to-back buckets for Day-Wilson and Te-Biasu. After a pull-up jumper from Te-Biasu, Canada took a 51-50 lead into the fourth.

In the final frame, Canada used a strong start to pull away. Belmore opened the fourth with a three to move Canada in front by four points. After a drive by Te-Biasu, the lead was six. A three-point play from Becker made it a seven-point advantage for Canada with 7:37 remaining. A three from Masikewich extended the lead to nine points, but Jayda Curry came back with a three of her own for Team USA.

The threes continued to fall as Washington connected from deep, again extending Canada’s lead to nine. Day-Wilson found Kyei inside for a layup and Canada led 73-64 with 2:16 remaining as Team USA called time.

The USA used a furious push over the next two minutes to get within three, 74-71, with 16 seconds remaining, but they ran out of time to try to complete a comeback and Canada emerged victorious.

Canadian Merissah Russell plays for Louisville and was suiting up against her Team Canada teammates in the game, fresh off of winning a bronze medal for Canada with the Senior Women’s National Team in Mexico at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup last weekend. She was thrilled to get to play at home and show her teammates Canada’s love for the game.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “I was telling everyone that I spoke to that it’s great for women’s basketball in Canada. We were able to enjoy the WNBA game in May and to have this for our age group is a big deal and huge for the growth of Canada Basketball.”

“I’m so proud that I get to be a part of it, that I’m not too old, not too young and I'm at the right age group to be part of it and help inspire young girls to be part of it in the future.”

Russell also spoke about playing against friend Day-Wilson.

“It’s funny because we played with each other in the ACC, but never Canada versus Louisville,” Russell said. “She’s an amazing player, I've grown up with her, I've grown up playing with her. We had her on the first line of the scouting report. She’s a great player, hard to guard and I wish she was on my team and not against us.”

Next up for Canada is a meeting with Puerto Rico on Saturday, July 15 at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.

Fans can catch all of the action live on Sportsnet.

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