The Canadian Cadette Women’s National Team did not get the start they were looking for at the FIBA U17 World Championship but have since picked up two wins.

Canada picked up their second straight victory in beating Mali 77-42. Maple Ridge teen Kolbie Orum scored 13 points and Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau added 11 points.

“We want to be at our best by the time we get, hopefully, to the final. We’re working on improving each game. We just want our last game to be our best game as a team,” said Canada’s Emily Potter, who had nine points, 10 rebounds and three steals off the bench.

Mali were paced by Awa Keita with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.

Group A finishes on Wednesday with the USA taking on Mali before Belgium and Italy battle. Canada face Korea to finish the group play.

Earlier in the week Canada picked up their first tough win against Belgium.

Canada beat Belgium 50-45. The Canadians held the tournament’s leading scorer Hind Ben Abdelkader to just nine points and grabbed 21 offensive rebounds in the victory.

Emma Wolfram scored a game-high 12 points while Kia Nurse hit for 9 and suffocated Ben Abdelkader into a 3 of 17 shooting night – she had averaged 27 points a game after two contests.

“Getting this W is amazing. It was a total team effort. We believed in ourselves and now that we got this victory we have even more confidence,” said Nurse.

The game was tight throughout the first half with neither team opening more than a six-point gap. Neither team could get into much of a rhythm until Canada opening an 11-point advantage – 36-25 – early in the second half.