EDMONTON — It was the final calm before the storm for Canada’s women’s basketball team.
Miranda Ayim led the way with 15 points as Canada improved to 3-0 in round robin play at the FIBA Americas women’s basketball championship with a dominating 111-36 victory over the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.
Nirra Fields also chipped in with 13 points and Natalie Achonwa with 12 as Canada continued its quest to secure a berth in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"We have a lot of offensive weapons and that was showcased tonight," said Canadian coach Lisa Thomaidis. "We talked a lot about taking high-quality shots and a big part of what we have tried to focus on this year is trying to push the pace and play faster."
Coming off their impressive gold-medal win over the United States at the recent Pan American Games in Toronto, the Canadian women previously toppled Puerto Rico 94-57 on Sunday and remained undefeated with a 93-36 victory over Chile on Monday.
Canada, which entered the 10-team tournament ranked third in the Americas and 10th in the world, continued its round-robin domination against the Dominican Republic as it came flying out to a 23-7 lead after the first quarter and kept on steaming to a 58-19 advantage at the half.
The host Canadians then parlayed that to an 85-27 lead heading into the final frame.
Genesis Evangelista led the way with 15 points for the Dominican Republic, ranked 11th in the Americas and 37th in the world. The Dominican Republic is now 0-3 in pool play, having lost 88-56 to Chile and 83-44 to Cuba.
Canada will have the day off on Wednesday before their toughest test to date, when they face the 2-0 defending FIBA Americas champion Cuban team to close out the round robin portion of the tournament on Thursday.
Thomaidis said this is when things get real for her team, which defeated Cuba 71-68 at the Pan-Ams.
"It’s the match-up we’ve been anticipating and waiting for," she said. "There is not much to choose from between the two teams. I think both teams have improved since the Pan-Am Games and we anticipate a real battle.
"We know what is ahead of us from here on in the tournament and the potential matchups we could have. There is a sense of urgency and seriousness about what is going to take place in the next few days."
Canada’s Kia Nurse said this is the exciting time of tournaments, as well.
"We all know the importance of this part of the tournament and are ready and amped up for it," she said. "This is what we have been waiting for. You will see the fist pumps going crazy now."
The winning team of the tournament will advance through to the Rio Olympics, unless Brazil emerges at the top of the tables, then the second place squad will advance as Brazil is the host nation and has an automatic berth.
The last time Canada won the Americas tournament was the last time they hosted the event in 1995 in Hamilton, although Canada took silver at the 2013 staging of the tournament in Mexico.
Notes – Canada has been on a real run on home soil in the last couple of years, including at the Pan-Ams. Including its three wins at the current tournament in Edmonton, Canada has now won its last 12 games as the home squad and 21 of 22 since 2010.