Canada splits group-stage games at 3×3 basketball stop in Switzerland | CBC Sports

Canada’s women’s 3×3 basketball team rebounded from a narrow loss with an emphatic win on Thursday in Fribourg, Switzerland.

The Canadians topped Malaysia 21-15 just hours after falling to Azerbaijani side Neftchi 15-13 when a late two-pointer fell short. At second place in Group A, they’ll move on to face Group C winner China in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Canada, the reigning champion, earned its first win of the season in Poitiers, France at the end of June — powered in part by sisters Katherine and Michelle Plouffe, who didn’t join regular teammates Kacie Bosch and Paige Crozon in Switzerland.

In their place were Calgary’s Carly Ahlstrom and Samantha Cooper of Sudbury, Ont.

Ahlstrom provided instant offence, leading the team with five points against Neftchi despite connecting on just one of seven three-point attempts. Crozon, meanwhile, struggled to just three points and missed two late attempts that could have drawn Canada within one point or forced overtime.

WATCH | Canada defats Malaysia:

FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Fribourg: Canada vs. Malaysia

Watch Canada face Malaysia at the 2023 FIBA Women’s 3×3 Series in Fribourg, Switzerland.

But the shot-making came back in a big way against Malaysia. Crozon, the Humboldt, Sask., native, led the way with nine points, including three makes from beyond the arc, as Canada raced to a 20-11 lead on the brink of victory.

After Malaysia fought back with a pair of two-pointers to make things interesting, Cooper found plenty of room under the net and calmly laid the ball in to clinch the Canadian win.

WATCH | Canada falls to Neftchi:

FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Fribourg: Canada vs. Neftchi

Watch Canada face Neftchi from Azerbaijan at the 2023 FIBA Women’s 3×3 Series in Fribourg, Switzerland.

The 3×3 Women’s Series stop in Switzerland continues Friday at 7:15 a.m. ET with live streaming available on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.