Mexico Defeats Senegal 79-65 to Reach Olympic Basketball Pre-Qualifier Semifinals

The Mexican women's basketball team secured a spot in the semifinals of the Olympic Pre-Qualifiers by defeating Senegal 79-65 in Guadalajara. The victory marks their second win in Group B, placing them at the top of the standings alongside Canada.

Despite a slow start, trailing Senegal 4-0, Mexico quickly found its rhythm. Mariana Valenzuela's three-pointer ignited the comeback, and subsequent points from Mayra Gil gave the home team a lead they never relinquished. Mexico established a significant 16-point advantage in the first quarter, building on strong offensive plays.

Senegal managed to adjust its defense in the second quarter, slowing Mexico's offense and winning the period 17-13 with effective inside play and rebounding. However, the remainder of the game saw alternating dominance, with Mexico consistently extending its lead whenever it gained control of the momentum.

Valenzuela was instrumental in Mexico's offense, contributing 13 points and seven rebounds. Gil provided solid support with 12 points. For Senegal, Cierra Dillard put on a standout performance, scoring 36 points, while Khadija Faye added 13 points and 13 rebounds. Mexico now looks ahead to the next stage of the tournament, aiming to secure a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.