BUCHAREST, Romania (August 10, 2022) — The Canadian Women’s 3×3 team went undefeated in five games to claim the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Bucharest, defeating Italy 21-10 in the final.

Canada recorded victories against Düsseldorf ZOOS, France and Italy on the second day of action in Bucharest to claim the series stop win after defeating Italy and Israel on Day 1 thanks to incredible performances throughout the event from the Plouffe sisters who led in multiple categories.

Michelle Plouffe was unstoppable as she finished with 44 points and 25 highlights over 5 games to lead all players in both categories. Her twin sister, Katherine, was right behind her as she finished with 33 points and 15 highlights to place second in each category. K. Plouffe also finished first in rebounds (37) and key assists (14), while M. Plouffe finished second overall in rebounds (27) and key assists (13).

M. Plouffe’s eight points and six rebounds led Canada in the final against Italy, while Paige Crozon added seven points and K. Plouffe added five points and four rebounds.

Canada made 9-of-10 field goal attempts from inside the arc and 6-of-13 attempts from two-point range in the victory compared to Italy’s 6-for-15 shooting from inside and 1-for-5 shooting from deep as the Canadian defensive effort was there from the jump.

After Kacie Bosch scored at the rim to get Canada on the board, K. Plouffe scored to give Canada a two-point advantage and then Crozon got to work. After a one-point shot and then a two-point shot from Crozon, Canada led 5-1 before K. Plouffe hit a two of her own to extend the lead to 7-1. Debora Carangelo drove to the rim and scored for Italy, but Canada responded with another two-point shot from Crozon.

M. Plouffe’s first two-point shot of the game extended Canada’s lead to 12-4. A drive from K. Plouffe pushed Canada’s lead to double figures, 15-5 and then she found M. Plouffe inside for another easy score.

A two-point shot from Raelin D’Alie kept the deficit at 10 points and Crozon calmly drilled a two-point shot to claim the win and the series stop victory with 2:58 remaining on the clock.

In Canada’s dominant 19-10 semifinal victory against France, K. Plouffe led the way with a monster 10-point, 14-rebound double-double, while M. Plouffe added eight points. Canada was on fire against France from inside, scoring from all over the floor. They shot 15-for-21 from inside the arc, compared to 6-for-20 shooting inside for France.

Canada jumped out to a 3-0 lead courtesy of M. Plouffe who scored the first three baskets of the game before Romane Bernies got France on the board with 8:08 remaining. After the teams traded baskets, M. Plouffe scored five straight points to put Canada ahead 9-2. Hortense Limouzin scored her first point of the game for France to make it 9-3 Canada.

France had no answer for Canada’s offence as the Canadians scored the next four points of the game, before Limouzin connected from long range. As K. Plouffe and Limouzin traded baskets, Canada led 14-6 with 2:11 remaining. After another 5-0 run, all from K. Plouffe, Canada led 19-6 with 51 seconds remaining. Marie Mané scored three straight points for France, but the damage was already done and Canada took the victory.

Canada’s first game of the day was a 21-5 blowout victory against Düsseldorf ZOOS where the Plouffe sisters once again could not be stopped. M. Plouffe scored nine points to go with eight rebounds and K. Plouffe scored nine points to go with five rebounds to lead the way.

After K. Plouffe scored back-to-back buckets to give Canada a 2-0 lead to start, M. Plouffe scored inside to give Canada a 3-0 lead with 7:20 remaining. Canada’s strong defensive effort held Düsseldorf ZOOS without its first point until the 5:41 mark when Ama Degbeon scored to get Düsseldorf ZOOS onto the board and made it 5-1 Canada.

Once Canada got their offence going, Düsseldorf ZOOS didn’t have an answer as Canada reeled off an 11-1 run to go up 16-2 with 1:36 remaining. M. Plouffe had two two-pointers during the run while K. Plouffe added another. Degbeon scored again for Düsseldorf ZOOS, but Canada responded with a shot from K. Plouffe, a two-point shot from M. Plouffe and another shot from K. Plouffe to make it 20-3 with 1:06 remaining.

Düsseldorf ZOOS scored the next two points of the game as Canada was looking to end things in the final minute and Crozon scored on a driving layup to the rim with 5.3 seconds remaining to give Canada the 21-5 victory.

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Matt Walker, mwalker@basketball.ca