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Rio 2016: Canadian women cruise past China in Olympic women’s basketball opener

Canada's forward Tamara Tatham (C) jumps for a basket by China's guard Chen Xiaojia during a Women's round Group A basketball match between China and Canada at the Youth Arena in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images

RIO DE JANEIRO – The Canadian women’s basketball team is off to a good start at the Rio Olympics.

Tamara Tatham of Brampton, Ont., had 20 points as Canada opened preliminary round play with a 90-68 victory over China at the Youth Arena.

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Team captain Kim Gaucher of Mission, B.C., led all players with 10 rebounds.

The United States, Spain, Serbia and Senegal are also in Canada’s group. The rest of the field includes France, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Belarus and Japan.

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Canada won gold at the Pan Am Games last year but has never reached the Olympic podium in women’s basketball.

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Canada will play Serbia on Monday.

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