2015 Summer Universiade: Former Lancer Williams scores game-high 17 points as Canada beats the Czech Republic
GWANGJU, South Korea (Team Canada) – The Canadian women’s basketball team secured a place in the semi-finals for the first time since 1991 with a hard-fought 61-53 win over the Czech Republic Thursday night in the quarterfinals.
GWANGJU, South Korea (Team Canada) – The Canadian women's basketball team secured a place in the semi-finals for the first time since 1991 with a hard-fought 61-53 win over the Czech Republic Thursday night in the quarterfinals.
Gwangju 2015 website: www.gwangju2015.com
Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2015/index
Team Canada Twitter: @CDNUniversiade | #goCanadaU
Canada will now face Russia in the semi-finals as they look to advance to the gold medal game for the first time in Universiade history. Canada's best finish at the games came with a pair of bronze medal performances in 1979 (Mexico City) and 1991 (Sheffield, England).
This is the third time that Canada has faced the Czech Republic over the last month having played a pair of exhibition games against them in a tournament in China. Canada came away with the victory in all three contests.
"Today was a grind. We played them twice in China and it wasn't easy there either. Beating a team three times is tough so we had to tweak up on a on our details heading into today," said CIS athlete of the year Korissa Williams. "We had a few lapses through the game but we grinded it out and now we are going to the semi-finals!"
The Canadians came out stronger than they have all tournament and challenged the gritty Czechs on both ends of the court. Being so familiar with each other, it was an uphill battle for both teams as the game was tied five times in the first ten minutes and was deadlocked at twenty heading into the second.
Canada started to pull away late in the third building a six point lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Czech brought the game within a few points late in the fourth but the Canadians stepped up to hold off the charge and advance to the next round.
"I am so proud of our girls today and they played with so much heart that I want to buy them all a bouquet of flowers," commented head coach Fabian McKenzie of Cape Breton University. "Everyone just battled and worked so hard in the second half. In the end, we outworked them down the stretch to earn the win."
The red and white had a solid inside game scoring 34 points from inside the paint. Williams led Canada with 17 points, 5 steals, and 5 rebounds, while Adut Bulgak of Edmonton, Alb., had the games only double-double with 16 points, 14 rebounds.
Their quest for gold continues Saturday night when they face the Russians at 5:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m. ET). The game will be webcast LIVE on www.livefisu.tv.
Source: CIS
