Nurse scored a game-high 18 points
TENERIFE, SPAIN – New York Liberty guard Kia Nurse scored a game-high for the second consecutive time and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe tallied a double-double as Canada Basketball’s Senior Women’s National Team got by France, 71-60. The win grants Canada a quarterfinals appearance and a two-day rest.
Canada (3-0) finishes first in Group A and will now face the winner of Wednesday’s game between host Spain and Senegal.
After an uncharacteristically slow start, Canada found itself down by as many as 15 points in the first quarter, in large part to a 13-0 run by France. Canada went on a modest 6-0 run of its own in the second to shrink the French lead to single digits, 25-16.
“The biggest thing for us was the defense coming up in the second half,” Nurse began. “Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, Miranda Ayim, Nirra Fields, Natalie Achonwa… They all came up and gave us some really huge sparks on defense. That was a combination of steals, tips on passes, just guarding tough players one-on-one in tough matchups. I think that was something that translated to our great offensive push that we had, especially in the fourth quarter.”
After trailing 36-26 at halftime, Canada exploded in the second half and used a 7-0 run at the end of the frame to close the deficit to just one point. After taking the lead early in the fourth, Canada dominated the final five minutes of play with a 15-0 run to take a commanding 70-55 lead and the eventual victory.
Nurse led all scorers and finished the night with 18 points and six assists while Raincock-Ekunwe had a double-double comprised of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Through the first three games, Nurse averaged 19.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Raincock-Ekunwe has put up 10.0 points, 8.0 boards and 2.0 dimes each time around.
Following this victory, Canada will have two off days to rest and prepare to face the winner of Senegal and Spain in the quarterfinals at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018.
Kia Nurse and Team Canada
2017: In her first tournament of the 2017 season with the Senior National Team, she contributed significantly to the Gold Medal win at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. She averaged 21.1 minutes per game, and 10.5 points per game along with 2.2 rebounds per game.
2016: Member of the Rio 2016 Olympic Team who placed 7th in the tournament; was the top performer in the game against Serbia scoring 25 points; averaged 11 points per game, 2.3 assists and 25.6 minutes Played 3 games with the Senior National team in the USA Showcase exhibition tournament, averaging 26.4 minutes and 5.3 points per game.
2015: Member of the 2015 Pan American Games team that won Canada’s first ever gold medal. Averaged 25.5 minutes and 12.8 points per game. Finished 3rd in scoring , 7th for made free throws, 8th in three pointers, and top 10 in assists for the tournament. Played in three exhibition games in Spain averaging 20.33 minutes and 8.0 points per game. Played in three exhibition games in France averaging 27.52 minutes and 11.0 points per game. Helped the SWNT achieve gold at the FIBA Americas, qualifying for Rio 2016 Olympics… Named MVP of the tournament…Averaged 25.3 minutes and 13.0 points per game
2014: Second year playing on the Senior Women’s National Team; averaging over 20 minutes in 8 exhibition games; averaged 6.3 Points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game in the Turkey exhibition tournament…averaged 6.7 points per game in the Czech exhibition tournament…Started in all 7 games at FIBA Worlds averaging 6.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
2013: First year playing on the Senior Women’s National team and competing in all exhibition tournaments and games leading up to FIBA Americas as well as playing in all FIBA America games. Averaged 10 points, 24.67 minutes and 2.50 assists per game in the FIBA Americas tournament and helped solidify Canada’s spot in the 2014 FIBA Worlds Tournament.
2012: Member of the 2012 CWNT that competed at the FIBA U17 World Championships in Amsterdam where they won bronze…was the team leader and 6th overall in the tournament in points per game and …one of the team captains. Member of the 3×3 Team that participated at the 2012 3×3 Youth World Championships held in Spain.
2011: Member of the 2011 U16 Cadette National Team that took part in the U16 FIBA Americas Championships held in Merida, Mexico, placing 3rd.
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and Team Canada
2018: Nayo played two games at the EGIC and contributed 13.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game.
2016: Member of the Rio 2016 Olympic Team, who placed 7th in the tournament; was the top rebounder in the game against USA, averaged 7.7 points per game, 6 rebounds and 22.5 minutes. Played 2 exhibition games in Spain averaged 17.7 minutes, 4.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. Played 3 exhibition games in France averaging 23.8 minutes, 8.7 points, and 5.0 rebounds. Played 3 games in the Edmonton Grads exhibition tournament, averaged 9.6 points per game and 20.8 minutes. Played 3 games in the USA Showcase tournament, averaging 5.0 points per game and 20.7 minutes.
2015: Member of the 2015 Pan American Games team that won Canada’s first ever gold medal averaging 10.5 minutes and 4.6 points a game. Played in three exhibition games in France and Spain. Helped the SWNT achieve gold at the FIBA Americas, qualifying for Rio 2016 Olympics.
2013: Played in all 4 exhibition tournaments and 2 exhibition games in Czech leading up to FIBA Americas 2013. First year playing with the Senior National team averaging 0.7 points, 7.19 minutes and 1.73 rebounds per game.
2012: Played in all 5 exhibition games with the Development Women’s National Team, averaging 13 minutes and 4 points per game.
2011: Was a member of the 2011 Development Women’s National Team that participated in the 2011 Summer Universiade where she averaged 16.1 minutes per game in the five games that the team played.
Canada roster for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018
Canada roster for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018
Natalie Achonwa
Kayla Alexander
Miranda Ayim
Bridget Carleton
Shay Colley
Nirra Fields
Kim Gaucher
Ruth Hamblin
Miah-Marie Langlois
Kia Nurse
Michelle Plouffe
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe
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