Canada beats Kenya 19-12 in Women’s 3×3 Basketball Olympic Qualifying

Paige Crozon (Twitter)

Team Canada has won its first game of the Women’s 3×3 Basketball Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Utsunomiya, Japan. On Friday, Canada beat Kenya 19-12.

It was an outstanding game for Paige Crozon of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Crozon led Canada with 10 points, as she made four of 11 two-point attempts, and one of three one-point attempts. Crozon also made her own free throw attempt. Katherine Plouffe of Edmonton, Alberta had four points, Michelle Plouffe of Edmonton had three points, and Kacie Bosch of Lethbridge, Alberta had two points. The Plouffe twins led Canada with six rebounds each, and had one key assist each. Katherine Plouffe had two blocked shots, and Michelle Plouffe had one blocked shot.

Unlike traditional 5×5 basketball, in 3×3 basketball, teams only get one point for a field goal in the paint, and two points for a shot made beyond the arc. Free throws are still only one point.

Team Canada next plays the Netherlands and Australia on Saturday to complete Pool B action. Pool A has Germany, Brazil, the host Japan and Austria.

Four teams have already qualified for the Women’s 3×3 basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. They are France (the host country), China and the United States (based on world ranking as of November 1, 2023), and Azerbaijan (winner of a qualifying tournament in Hong Kong). The winner of the eight team tournament in Japan will also qualify. The top three teams from an Olympic tournament in Debrecen, Hungary from May 16 to 19, will complete qualification.

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