Canada eliminated from Olympic women’s basketball tourney after loss to Nigeria

Posted on August 4, 2024 by Peggy

Canada is out of the women’s basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics after losing 79-70 to Nigeria on Sunday in Lille, France.

The Canadians went winless across their three preliminary round matchups and finished at the bottom of a group that also includes France and Australia.

Shay Colley put up a team-high 17 points for a Canada side that committed 26 turnovers.

Nigeria (2-1) got 21 points from Ezinne Kalu while Elizabeth Balogun poured in another 14.

The Nigerians jumped all over the Canadians early, forcing turnovers and taking a 10-2 lead midway through the first quarter, then went on a 15-0 run that broke their opponents early in the third.

Canada came into the tournament ranked fifth in the world and was expected to challenge for a spot on the podium.

Japan ousted by Belgium

Emma Meesseman scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Belgium routed Japan 85-58 to clinch the first of three remaining quarterfinal berths. The Cats came together, hugging and dancing at midcourt, with some wiping tears from their eyes in celebration after the final buzzer.

Japan (0-3) was eliminated after winning silver three years ago at the Tokyo Games. The Japanese wiped away tears as they left the court.

This is the second straight Olympics the silver medalist failed to medal in the next Olympics. Spain won silver in 2016 at the Rio de Janeiro Games, then lost to France in the quarterfinals in Tokyo.

Belgium (1-2) needed to beat Japan by 27 points to finish with a better point differential than China to keep playing. The Cats had a packed house trying to help, with Belgium a mere 32 kilometres away and China (1-2) watching the scoreboard through the final three games to learn its fate.

Belgium outscored Japan 22-16 in the third for a 61-39 lead. Fans roared for each bucket, knowing the need to not only win but by the point margin. Elise Ramette’s 3 with 4:52 pushed the lead to the 27 points needed at 71-44, and Becky Massey hugged her to start a Japan timeout.