University of Massachusets Athletics
Tatham And Canada Qualify For World Tourn.
August 05, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Aug. 8, 2004
MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico - The Canadian Junior Women's (Under 18) National Team (4-1)made history Aug. 9 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, defeating Brazil (2-3), 47-43 in the bronze medal game of the FIBA Americas Under 18 World Championship Qualification Tournament to earn the program's first ever berth into the FIBA Under 19 World Championship. In the five games, Tatham averaged 6.4 ppg. Game 5 * Aug. 8 (Bronze Medal Game)
Canada 47, Brazil 43 Tatham had 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals. Led by head coach Christine Stapleton (Goderich, ON), Canada will join 11 other nations, including the United States of America (4-0) and Puerto Rico (3-1), at the 2005 FIBA Under 19 World Championship in Hammamet, Tunisia from July 15-24. The USA defeated Puerto Rico in the tournament's gold medal game. Held every four years since 1988, Canada's previous best finish at the FIBA Americas Under 18 World Championship Qualification Tournament was a fourth place result in the event's inaugural year. Canada had finished fifth in the past three tournaments. The turning point in the game came late in the fourth quarter. With Canada trailing 42-38, the National Under 18 squad was able to hold Brazil to just one point over the final three minutes while scoring nine to steal the victory away from the South Americans. University of Massachusetts recruit, Alisha Tatham (Brampton, ON) led all Canadian scorers with 11 points. Tamika Nurse (Hamilton, ON) added 10 while Chantelle John (Scarborough, ON) finished with a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with nine points. Brazil's Izabela Morais led all players with a game-high 19 points. For the third consecutive game, Canada got off to a slow start offensively and trailed 14-7 after the opening 10 minutes of play. Team Canada stormed back in the second quarter as the National Under 18 squad scored the first seven points of the period en route to taking a 24-20 lead at the half. In the third quarter, Canada started slowly again and Brazil took advantage, scoring eight consecutive points to open the period and reclaim the lead at 28-24. Brazil led 33-32 entering the final frame. Game 4 * Aug. 7
Peurto Rico 77, Canada 57 Tatham had six points. The Canadian Junior Women's (Under 18) National Team will meet Brazil Aug. 8 in the bronze medal game with the third and final FIBA Under 19 World Championship berth on the line after falling to the hosts 77-57 Aug. 7 in the semifinals of the FIBA Americas Under 18 World Championship Tournament in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The third place contest between the two nations will be their second game in three days. The opening tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. Canada previously defeated Brazil 54-52 in their final round robin game. A win by Canada would allow the Canadian Junior Women's National Team to make history by qualifying for a FIBA Under 19 World Championship for the first time in the program's history. By virtue of their semifinal victories this evening, the United States of America and Puerto Rico have each secured berths into the 2005 FIBA Under 19 World Championship in Tunisia. Both nations square off in the gold medal game at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tamika Nurse (Hamilton, ON) led Canada this evening with 14 points. Stephany Skrba (Richmond Hill, ON) recorded her third double double of the tournament, finishing with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Pamela Rosado paced Puerto Rico with a game-high 27 points while Zulmaire Sanchez added 24. Team Canada fell behind early in the contest and was never fully able to recover as Puerto Rico jumped out to a 25-12 lead after the opening quarter. Trailing 39-22 at the break, Canada was unable to mount a serious charge in the second half as Puerto Rico extended their lead to 57-35 entering the final frame. Game 3 * Aug. 6
Canada 54, Brazil 52 Tatham did not score, but had three rebounds, two assists and two steals. The Canadian Junior Women's (Under 18) National Team (3-0) overcame a shaky first quarter shooting performance to grab the top spot in Pool B with a thrilling 54-52 comeback victory over Brazil (2-1) on the final day of round robin play at the FIBA Americas Under 18 World Championship Qualification Tournament in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. With the victory, Canada advances to the tournament's medal round alongside Brazil. Both nations will join the United States of America and hosts Puerto Rico in the tournament's semifinals this weekend. The Junior Women's National Team will play Puerto Rico (2-1) in the semifinals Aug. 7 at 8:00 p.m. The top three countries from the medal round will each earn berths into the 2005 FIBA Under 19 World Championship in Tunisia. A win by Canada over Puerto Rico would allow the Junior Women's National Team to qualify for a FIBA World Championship for the first time in the program's history. After digging themselves into a hole early by scoring just seven points on 2-for-15 shooting in the opening quarter, Canada sprang to life in the second half and delivered their best performance of the tournament. Trailing 28-18 entering the third quarter, the National Under 18 squad outscored Brazil 10-4 in the first five minutes to cut the deficit to four points. From there, Canada's Janelle Bekkering (Taber, AB) single-handedly took over the game as the W.R. Myers High School forward scored eight unanswered points to give Canada a 36-32 lead. Ahead 38-34 with 10 minutes to play, Brazil clawed back to within one point at 43-42 before Bekkering scored six straight points for Canada to keep the National Under 18 squad out in front by a count of 49-46 with 3:18 remaining. Entering the final minute of play, Tamika Nurse (Hamilton, ON) was able to muscle her way inside the paint for a field goal and Bekkering added a free throw to give Canada a 53-46 lead with 11 seconds remaining. Brazil's Joice Souza connected on three-pointer with six seconds left to cut the deficit to four before Nurse hit on one of two from the line to bump Canada's advantage back up to five. Brazil's Izabela Morais hit a desperation three-pointer with one second remaining to round out the game's scoring. For the second consecutive contest, Bekkering was Canada's leading scorer, shooting 6-for-7 from the field for a game-high 15 points. Stephany Skrba (Richmond, Hill) posted her second double double of the tournament, finishing with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Nurse added 10 points to go along with a game-high five assists. Jacqueline Silvestre led Brazil with 11 points. Canada connected on 21 of their 61 attempts (34%) from the field while Brazil shot 19-for-74 (26%) from the floor. The Junior Women's National Team outrebounded Brazil 46-40. Game 2 * Aug. 5
Canada 65, Guatemala 26 Tatham had 10 points, one rebound, three assists and a steal in 24 minutes. The Canadian Junior Women's (Under 18) National Team are one step closer to qualifying for the 2005 FIBA Under 19 World Championship after soaring over Guatemala, 65-26, in round robin play at the FIBA Americas Under 18 World Championship Qualification Tournament in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. With the win, Canada improves to 2-0 in Pool B and is virtually assured of a spot in the tournament's medal round. The top two teams in each pool qualify for the semifinals with the three medal winners earning berths into next year's FIBA Under 19 World Championship in Tunisia. Should Canada qualify for the 2005 event it would mark the first time that a Canadian Junior Women's National Team will have advanced to a FIBA World Championship. Canada was led by the efforts of Janelle Bekkering (Taber, AB) who just missed out on recording a double double after posting game-highs of 11 points and nine rebounds. University of Massachusetts recruit, Alisha Tatham (Brampton, ON) chipped in with 10 points while Agincourt Collegiate graduate, Chantelle John (Scarborough, ON), added nine. The Junior Women's National Team wasted little time in taking the suspense out of their second round robin game as they built up a 19-5 advantage after the opening quarter and led 31-14 at the break. In the second half, Canada continued their dominance, holding Guatemala (0-2) to just seven and five points in the third and fourth quarters respectively en route to a 39-point victory. The Canadian Junior Women's National Team's will conclude their preliminary round schedule on Friday, August 6 with a game against Brazil (1-0). The opening tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (EST). A victory by Canada on Friday would give the National Under 18 squad the top spot in Pool B. Game 1 * Aug. 5
Canada 66, Dominican Republic 39
Tatham had five points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals in 18 minutes.
In one of the top performances by a National Team athlete this year, Stephany Skrba (Richmond Hill, ON) dominated the opposition with game-highs of 23 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks as the Canadian Junior (Under 18) Women's National Team (1-0) defeated the Dominican Republic (0-1) by a score of 66-39 in Pool B action on the opening day of the FIBA Americas Under 18 World Championship Qualification Tournament in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
After a tight first half, the turning point in the game came in the third quarter as the National Under 18 squad went on a 13-0 run to close the period and turn a 35-32 lead into a commanding 48-32 advantage heading into the final frame.
Canada outscored the Dominican Republic 35-12 in the second half. A 6'2" forward who will enter Grade 12 at Langstaff Secondary School in the fall, Skrba shot a remarkable 11-for-15 (73%) from the field. St. Thomas More Secondary guard Tamika Nurse (Hamilton, ON) was second among Canadians in scoring with 11 points.
The Dominican Republic was led by Johanna Morton who had team highs of 15 points and six rebounds. Team Canada came out on fire to start the game and raced to a 13-5 lead midway through the opening quarter. However, the National Under 18 squad had difficulties shaking their opposition in the early going as t he Dominican Republic used a trapping press to help reel off eight straight points and tie the game at 13-13 after 10 minutes of play.
The remainder of the first half essentially turned into a duel between Skrba and Morton as both players scored the bulk of their team's baskets. Skrba was 8-for-10 in the opening 20 minutes and finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Morton posted team-highs of 13 points and four boards.
Canada led 31-27 at the half.
The Canadian Junior Women's National Team's preliminary round play continues on Thursday with a game against Guatemala at 4:00 p.m. Canada will then tip-off against Brazil on Friday at 6:00 p.m. to wrap up their portion of the round robin.
The top two countries in each pool advance to the medal round crossovers while the remaining nations are relegated to the consolation round.
In order to qualify for the 2005 FIBA Under 19 World Championship in Tunisia, Canada must finish the FIBA Americas tournament in one of the top three positions.
Should Canada qualify for next year's event it would mark the first time that a Canadian Junior Women's National Team will have advanced to a FIBA World Championship.
