(Birmingham, UK) The Canadian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team looks to reach the podium for the fifth consecutive time when they compete in the bronze medal match at the 2010 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships on Saturday at 9:00am (GMT). Canada lost to the USA 68-58 in their semi-final match on Thursday and must now face Australia for third place.

Heading into the tournament both the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Teams were the defending champions - having won gold at the previous tournament held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 2006. For the Canadian Women it was their fourth consecutive World Championship Title.

Just two points separated Canada and the USA at the end of the first quarter of their semi-final match.  By halftime the USA extended their lead to 31-25 and despite the better field goal percentage (45%) and free-throw percentage (73%) Canada was unable to close the gab.

With three players scoring 10 or more points, the USA managed to string together a couple of scoring runs that forced Canada to play catch up throughout the game. A free-throw made by Janet McLachlan (Vancouver, BC) at 7:26 of the fourth quarter made the score 49-44, but that was as close as the score would get.

McLachlan continued to put up MVP like numbers with 33 points and 18 rebounds to pace the floor in both categories and capture her 6th double-double in as many games. She leads the tournament in both points per game averaging 26.2 and rebounds per game averaging 17.2 (her closest competition – Marina Mohnen from Germany - is scoring nearly 8 points and 7 rebounds less a game).  

Chantal Benoit (Mont-St. Hilliare, QC) had her best game of the tournament pitching in with 12 points and 10 assists to also get a double-double.

“Of course a loss in the semi-finals is not what we wanted, but we did some good things in the game that we can carry forward to the bronze game. It will be good to have a rematch against Australia and show them what we can do,” said Team Canada athlete Elaine Allard (St. Eustache, QC).

“We are a young a team with a lot of new players. For a high pressure game we did a lot of things right – now we just have to do a few more things right in the bronze game to be successful.”

Heading into the finals Tara Feser (St. Albert, AB) is shooting 66.7% from beyond the arc, which is tops in the tournament and trails only her teammate McLachlan with a free-throw shooting percentage of 77.8% (McLachlan is tops with 80.0%).

Canada must now face Australia to decide the Bronze medal. The two teams met earlier in the tournament during the preliminary round with Australia narrowly coming out ahead 59-52.

As a team Canada is averaging the most rebounds per game with 43 and edges the Aussies in field goal, three-point, and free-throw shooting.  Both teams are averaging just under 60 points per game.

The women’s bronze medal match is schedule Saturday July 17, 2010 at 9:00am (GMT). It will be followed by the Championship game between Germany and the USA at 1:30pm (GMT).

Team Canada Men:

Following a fantastic start to the tournament the Canadian Men’s team lost their third consecutive game. Coming off an upset loss to Italy in the quarterfinals the night before they needed to beat Great Britain in order to gain the right to play for fifth place, but despite leading by as much as 12 points in the third quarter they fell to the hometown team 67-51.

Canada offense was extremely hot or cold. They were firing on all cylinders in the third quarter when they went on an 18 point run to establish a 45-33 lead. Then they could only muster 6 points in the final period following a nine minute drought that saw Great Britain go on a 20 point run.  Dave Durepos (Fredericton, NB) paced the Canadians with 15 points including three 3-pointers. Richard Peter (Duncan, BC) scored 14 points, while Joey Johnson (Lorette, MB) tallied a double-double with 10 points and a game high 11 rebounds.

Up next the Canadian Men will face Turkey to decide seventh place Friday at 4:15 pm (GMT).  Canada holds the edge having defeated Turkey in the preliminary rounds 69-60.

Canadian athletes and coaches will be available for scheduled interviews throughout the duration of the tournament.  

To schedule an interview, or to request additional information, or images, please contact Emma Van Steen, Communications & Media Relations Assistant, at (613)-260-1296 ext. 200, or by email at evansteen@wheelchairbasketball.ca  

Team Canada Men Schedule/Results (all times shown in GMT):

vs. Mexico – Thu. July 8, 2010 @ 2:00pm – Win 68-45
vs. Algeria – Fri. July 9, 2010 @ 4:15pm – Win 87-61
vs. France – Sat. July 10, 2010 @ 2:15pm – Win 67-55
vs. Turkey – Sun. July 11, 2010 @ 11:45am – Win 69-60
vs. Australia – Mon. July 12, 2010 @ 6:45pm – Loss 67-49

Quarterfinals vs. Italy – Wed. July 14, 2010 @ 12:15pm – Loss 63-47
Relegation vs. Great Britain – Thu. July 15, 2010 @ 4:15pm – Loss 67-51

7/8 Place vs. Turkey – Fri. July 16, 2010 @ 4:15pm - tbd

Team Canada Women Schedule/Results: (all times shown in GMT):

vs. Great Britain – Thu. July 8, 2010 @ 11:45am – Win 54-39
vs. Netherlands – Fri. July 9, 2010 @ 2:00pm – Win 58-54
vs. Mexico – Sun. July 11, 2010 @ 6:45pm – Win 69-44
vs. Australia – Mon. July 12 @ 12:15pm - Loss 59-53

Quarterfinals vs. Japan – Wed. July 14 @ 6:45pm – Win 62-39
Semi-final vs. USA – Thu. July 15, 2010 @ 6:30pm – Loss 68-58

Bronze vs. Australia – Sat. July 17, 2010 @ 9:00am – tbd.

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is at the 2010 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships and will be providing frequent social media updates, video blogs, and photo galleries, in addition to daily recaps.

For more information visit: www.wheelchairbasketball.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/wheelchairbasketball

Twitter: twitter.com/WCBballCanada

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/WheelchairBball

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About Wheelchair Basketball Canada

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sports governing body responsible for the organization of wheelchair basketball in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is the Canadian member to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).

www.wheelchairbasketball.ca

For more information, to request additional images, or to schedule an interview contact:

Emma Van Steen
Communications & Media Relations Assistant
T: 613-260-1296 ext. 200
evansteen@wheelchairbasketball.ca
 
Press Attaché Overseas:
Jody Kingsbury
Manager, Communications & Media Relations
T: 613-260-1296 ext. 204
jkingsbury@wheelchairbasketball.ca