MEDELLIN (Colombia) – Canada and Puerto Rico had victorious starts to their FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament campaigns, defeating Venezuela and Colombia respectively on Thursday at Iván de Bedout Coliseum.

Here’s a look at the action from Matchday 1:

Canada 81 – 39 Venezuela

Canada got off to a blistering start during the tournament’s inaugural game, defeating Venezuela 81-39 in a wire-to-wire affair.

The North Americans didn’t even have their most efficient offensive game, finishing just 39.7 percent from the field. However, their defensive intensity, size advantage and supremacy on the boards more than made up for it.

Victor Lapeña’s squad had four different players scoring in double digits and as many as eight collecting multiple buckets.

Laeticia Amihere led the way with an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double with a pair of blocks in 25 minutes of action off the bench.

Veteran Kia Nurse, forward Bridget Carleton and youngster Cassandre Prosper added 10 points apiece for Team Canada, who got more points from their bench (45) than their opponent scored overall.

Venezuela struggled mightily to generate offense and were held to just 23 percent from the field. They connected on just 4 of 24 three-point attempts and had 18 turnovers.

Mariana Duran (10 points) was their only player scoring in double digits, with Aguehil Fajardo (7) and Daniela Wallen (6) struggling with their shots and the whole team being unable to put enough pressure on the rim or get to the free throw line.

Eduardo Pinto’s players did manage to hold Canada without a bucket for more than 6 minutes between the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, but they couldn’t capitalize and close the gap.

Canada also got 8 points and 10 rebounds from Kayla Alexander, 9 points and 4 assists from Sami Hill and 8 points and 6 rebounds from Shay Colley to round out the teamwide effort.

Puerto Rico 80 – 79 Colombia

Puerto Rico prevailed in an absolute nailbiter to get past host country Colombia, 80-79, in the night game thanks to an otherworldly performance from Arella Guirantes.

The dynamic guard put up 39 points on 12/22 from the field. She scored 18 of her 25 first-half points in the second quarter.

“I got a groove early and I was being aggressive,” she said.

And as the boricuas found their winning formula, they went to that well time and time again. Guirantes shot 4/8 from downtown and added 11 made free throws.

She also notched 8 rebounds and 6 assists for an efficiency of 38.

“When I’m aggressive, (my teammates) just keep feeding me the ball,” Guirantes said. “They trust me and believe in me.”

Colombia won the opening quarter 22-19 and kept it close for most of the night on a game that had 7 lead changes.

They even had a chance to win in the final seconds after Puerto Rico committed an intentional foul that sent Manuela Ríos to the charity stripe with 3.6 seconds left in regulation. Ríos made both and because Colombia got the ball back, she was able to get off a free-throw line jumper that rimmed out.

The South Americans missed 9 of their 20 free throw attempts – costly mistakes that could’ve tipped the balance of the matchup.

Center Yuliany Paz did everything in her power to please the home crowd, finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and a pair of blocks.

Jennifer Muñoz added 14 points on 3/6 from beyond the arc and Yaneth Arias had 12 points and 6 assists for Luis Cuenca’s squad.

But in the end, Puerto Rico’s accuracy at the line (16/19) proved to be the difference. They also shot 43.6 percent from the field and outrebounded their opponent, 42-38.

However, Guirantes pointed out that their defense needs to be better the rest of the way. Puerto Rico only forced 6 turnovers and allowed Colombia to rack up 22 assists on 29 made baskets.

“Going forward, if we want to compete a higher level, we’re going to have to not give up 79 points,” she said.

Puerto Rico will face Venezuela on Friday, while Colombia will go head-to-head against Canada.

FIBA