Canada downs host Hungary to open Olympic women's basketball qualifier

Kayla Alexander led the way with 15 points and 13 rebounds as Canada defeated host Hungary 67-55 Thursday to open a FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament.

Bridget Carleton added a game-high 18 points for the fifth-ranked Canadians in Sopron. Natalie Achonwa and Shay Colley chipped in 10 points apiece.

"I'm happy to see how the team played together," Canada head coach Victor Lapena said. "We have some of our players in Europe, Spain, France.

"Four or five [of our] players, they are not playing [in this tournament] ... But the mentality, the physicality of the game, how we put the level at the highest competition, how my players showed we are very strong mentally is the most important for me."

WATCH | Canada tops Hungary:

The competition is one of four Olympic qualifying tournaments with 10 of the 12 spots for the 2024 Paris Games on the line. The U.S. and France are the lone teams to have already qualified.

Spain and Japan are the other two countries in the four-team tournament along with Canada and Hungary. The top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the Olympics.

Dorka Juhasz led 19th-ranked Hungary with 13 points. The hosts never led once and were outrebounded 50-32, giving up 17 offensive rebounds.

"Giving so many offensive rebounds to Canada, they were great on the boards," Juhasz said. "They played very great, aggressive defence on us. Canada has an amazing team, great veteran leaders."

The Canadians jumped out quickly against Hungary, with an 8-2 run capped by an Achonwa layup 4:05 into the contest. Just under three minutes later, Achonwa gave Canada its first double digit-lead, 15-5, with another layup.

Hungary fought back early in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to just five, 27-22, with