ANKARA, TURKEY – The Canadian women’s basketball team has advanced to the Elimination Round at the 2014 FIBA World Championships for Women.

Canada lost a close game against France today 59-63 and now join the 12 teams left in the tournament.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth in the team over the past few days, with significant improvements in each game”, said Head Coach Lisa Thomaidis.

It was an exciting 20 minutes of end-to-end basketball in the first half, as both teams battled fiercely, ending with France ahead by just one point at the end of the 2nd quarter, 31-30.  

The fight carried over into the 3rd, as both teams were reluctant to give up. Each would string together a run of-their-own but France still led heading into the 4th, 47-43.

Canada rallied in the remaining seconds of the game to bring it to within two points but France would close the game out on free-throws, 63-59 and clinch 2ndplace in Group B.

Leading contributors in the game were Michelle Plouffe (Edmonton, AB) with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, and Tamara Tatham (Brampton, ON) who poured in 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in the loss.

With little time to reflect on the loss, Thomaidis knows that the team must look ahead to tomorrow’s game:

“As much as it hurts to lose tonight against France like that, the game that counts is the one tomorrow against the Czech Republic. That is where it’s time to put it all together.”

Tomorrow, Canada (1-2) will face-off against the Czech Republic (2-1) in a quarter-final play-in at 9:15am ET, live on NBATV Canada and tape delayed on Sportsnet.

Full boxscore from Canada vs. France:

http://www.fiba.com/ls/#6242&BKW400B06

For the complete 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women schedule, go to

http://www.basketball.ca/2014-fiba-world-championship-for-women-schedule-p156923

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