Oct. 4, 2010

BOX SCORE

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic - (courtesy of www.basketball.ca) Canada's Senior Women's National Team (SWNT) couldn't overcome a 21-9 first-quarter deficit, falling 71-55 to Greece on Saturday in their final game at the FIBA World Championship. Canada (1-7) finished 12th out of 16 teams at the tournament. But SWNT head coach Allison McNeill was still impressed with her team's effort since many of her players are young and inexperienced.

"We played the best teams and I think for stretches we were right with them," McNeill said. "That's the first thing you have to do I think. ... we had great team chemistry, unbelievable work ethic and superior toughness.

"I think if we can just add some pieces to our game then I think we can be there. But it's going to take a lot of work."

Saturday's loss came despite an outstanding performance by Krista Phillips (Saskatoon).

Phillips scored 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, four of them on the offensive glass.

"I thought that we fought hard," Phillips said. "I think that we put ourselves in a bad spot by getting down in the beginning. It was hard for us to come back."

Kim Smith (Mission, B.C.) added 11 points, including 6-of-6 from the line, and seven rebounds.

Greece's Dimitra Kalentzou led all scorers with 21 points.

After the rough opening period, the SWNT's offence came alive over the next 20 minutes and the Canadians were down by just seven, 45-38, at the end of the third quarter. A pair of free throws by Smith with 2:25 left in the period had brought the Canadians to within three, 41-38, before Kalentzou finished the quarter for Greece with a three-pointer and a free throw.

Greece outscored Canada 26-17 in the final period.

Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Janelle Bekkering played seven minutes for Canada, hitting one shot and dishing out one assist. Bekkering returns to Spokane Monday.