Plouffe twins lead Canadian women past Australia to open Olympic 3x3 basketball tournament

Twin sisters Katherine and Michelle Plouffe combined for 18 points as Canada opened its run at the Olympic women's 3x3 basketball tournament with a 22-14 win over Australia.

Katherine Plouffe had a game-high 10 points and added three rebounds while Michelle Plouffe led Canada with five rebounds to go with eight points.

The Plouffes, from Edmonton, were joined on the floor by Paige Crozon of Humboldt, Sask., (four points, four rebounds) and Kacie Bosch of Lethbridge, Alta., (two rebounds).

Alex Wilson had six points and a game-high six rebounds for Australia.

The Canadians opened with a 15-2 run at the iconic Place de la Concorde.

"It is about defence," Michelle Plouffe said. "It was important for us to get stops and rebounds and just come out locked-in on defence and that was the game plan there. A lead like that is huge. It was testament to all the work we have done."

Canada shot 8-of-13 from the field and 4-for-11 from two-point range, while Australia struggled at 5-of-16 from the floor and 1-of-6 from two. In 3x3 basketball, a field goal from beyond the arc is worth two points, while a field goal from inside the arc is worth one point.

Canada next faces China on Wednesday.

WATCH l Full replay of Canada's win over Australia:

The defending champion U.S. women fell to Germany 17-13 on Tuesday in the opening game of pool play in 3x3 basketball.

Hailey Van Lith led the U.S. with six points. But she was struggling after the game, and she said she believes the heat exacerbated an illness she already was dealing with.

"I think I actually have a cold," she said. "I think it was from the rain in the opening ceremony. So, I think it's a combination of that, but I'll be fine. I played through it in the NCAA Tournament, so