Canada maul Mali 89-23 in a Group D encounter at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifiers for Women
Courtnay Pilypaitis hammered 15 points including three 3 pointers, handed out a game high 10 assists and hauled down 6 rebounds as Canada routed Mali 89-23 in a Group D encounter of the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifiers for Women on
Monday night here at Istanbul, Turkey.
Such was the dominance of the Canadian basketball team that they never allowed the Malians to cross the double digit mark even once in the four quarters. The closest that the Africans got to touching that mark was in the last frame,
when they managed 9 points.
The Canadians dominated the game in every facet. They shot 47.7 percent from the floor as compared to 15.4 from the Malians, out-rebounded the Africans 58-19, had 22 dimes as compared to 2 and also had 5 blocks.
Kimberley Smith was the second highest scorer for Canada with 11 points and 8 rebounds while Miranda Joy Ayim finished the night with 10 points. For Mali, forward Nassira Traore had 7 points while Fanta Guindo had 6.
Despite the outright Canadian dominance in the game, it was the Africans who had the better start to the game. Mali led by 4 points to start off as the North American failed to find the net for the first 3:13 minutes.
Teresa Gabriele finally broke the dry spell with a shot from the land of three to make it 3-4. Mali followed with two free throws. Those were however the last points the Africans scored in frame as the Canadian raced off to a 19-0
run to end the first quarter at 22-6.
The onslaught just continued. The Canadians were ruthless on both ends of the floor. For the next 20 minutes of playing time; they mauled the Malians 43-8 and entered the last 10 minutes of the game with a mammoth 65-14 lead.
Canada extended their lead to 74-16 early in the fourth before a three pointer from Fanta Guindo finally found the inside of the Canadian cup. The game was however over way back before and a Pilypaitis three pointer with 4 seconds
left on the clock provided a befitting end to what was a schooling lesson for the Malians.
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