Canadian women earn 2nd straight blowout win over Spain at wheelchair basketball qualifier
Team improves to 2-0 in Japan behind Kady Dandeneau's 35-point outing
Canada's women's wheelchair basketball team continued its strong start at the Paralympic qualifying tournament on Thursday in Osaka, Japan.
The Canadians beat Spain 77-49 on Thursday to improve to 2-0 at the last-chance event. They downed Japan 81-44 a day earlier.
Kady Dandeneau of Pender Island, B.C., led Canada in scoring for the second consecutive game, recording 35 points to go with 13 rebounds and six assists.
Beatriz Zudaire paced Spain with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
The Spanish kept things close in the first quarter, trailing by only two after the first frame before Canada broke things open.
"It was a pretty good team win. We knew that Spain likes to come out and be a very energetic team, so we came out pretty centred knowing that they would try to get us off our game that way," Dandeneau said. "I think we took care of things, stayed composed, played a perfect team game and executed many of the things we set out to do."
The tournament follows the same format as the recently completed men's qualifier, in which teams play three games to determine seeding and matchups for a do-or-die qualification game. Canada's men went 0-3 before stunning previously unbeaten Italy to book their ticket to Paris.
The Canadian women's team has qualified for every Paralympics but one since 1972, but is seeking its first podium appearance since winning bronze in 2004 to end a stretch of three straight gold medals.
The Canadians return to the court Thursday at 11:45 p.m. ET to face France. Live coverage is available on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.
WATCH | Full replay of Canada vs. Spain:
