Canadian women to face Netherlands in quarterfinals at wheelchair basketball worlds

The Canadian women's wheelchair basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals at the world championships with a 54-50 win over China on Friday in Dubai.

Cindy Ouellet of Quebec City and Kady Dandeneau of Pender Island, B.C., led the way with 22 points apiece, while Dandeneau also added a game-high 16 rebounds and five assists.

The Canadians led 45-40 entering the fourth quarter after outscoring China in the first and third at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The Chinese squad made a push in the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run, but Canada responded with a 4-0 run to hand China its first loss of the tournament.

"We've been in many tight games this week, and China was undefeated in the group play. For us to come out and compete today was awesome," Canada head coach Marni Abbott-Peter said in a release. "We executed the game plan perfectly. At the end of the game, when it got tight, we kept our composure, did what we needed, and ended up with the win."

WATCH | Canadian women punch ticket to quarterfinals with win over China:

Ouellet also had nine rebounds and three assists in the win, while Elodie Tessier of Saint-Germain de Grantham, Que., collected eight points and three rebounds.

"It was a really good fight till the end," Ouellet said. "We stayed composed and helped each other even on the bench, the coaching staff – we helped each other to stay composed, and that was the difference at the end."

The win gave the team a 3-2 record in group play. Canada also has wins over Brazil and Great Britain, but it fell short against Spain and Australia.

The Netherlands advanced to the quarterfinals with a 66-57 win over the United States, while Spain, Germany and Australia also booked spots.

In the men's tournament, Canada suffered a