(St. Catharines, ON)  – A new chapter in the history of women’s wheelchair basketball began yesterday, as day one of the inaugural Women’s U25 World Championships unfolded in front of a boisterous crowd at Brock University in St. Catharines, ON.

The host team did not disappoint its hometown fans as Canada cruised to a 62-15 win over South Africa in its opening game of the competition. Halifax native Abby Stubbert was an unstoppable force on the court, dropping a game-high 19 points for the Canucks.

“It was a great game. We started off strong and everyone who came in just kept building and did a great job,” said Stubbert. “It was amazing to play on home soil in front of all the fans.”

Canadian teammate Cindy Ouellet showcased her skills on both sides of the ball, earning a triple double with 17 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.

In the opening game of the tournament, Germany and Japan battled to a tight 60-53 finish with the Germans holding on for the victory. Team Germany’s Mareike Adermann scored a monstrous 32 points to lead the tournament in scoring after one day of competition.

The intense momentum carried over to the second game of the day in which Australia defeated Great Britain by a 57-45 count. Australia’s Cobi Crispin tallied a game-high 21 points while Amy Conroy and Helen Freeman each scored 16 points to lead the offensive charge for Great Britain.

The United States also captured a win against Mexico in its first game of the competition. The Americans seized a commanding 61-36 victory with Rebecca Murray and Desiree Miller each notching 16 points. Floralia Estrada was the offensive juggernaut for Mexico, as she dropped a game-high 19 points, including two baskets from beyond the three-point arc.

The hard-hitting basketball action continues on Saturday July 16th, as follows:

• Mexico (0-1) and Great Britain (0-1) tip off at 10:00AM EDT
• South Africa (0-1) and Germany (1-0) will clash at 12:15PM EDT
• Australia (1-0) and the United States (1-0) will renew rivalries at 14:45PM EDT
• Japan (0-1) will face Canada (1-0) at 17:00PM EDT

All of the games will be webcast live on the official event website. For more information, visit www.u25wwbc.com.

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About the 2011 U25WWBC

The first-ever Women's U25 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships is a milestone event in the ongoing growth of wheelchair basketball around the globe and forges a legacy of unprecedented opportunity for young women in sport. The tournament features teams from Australia, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and the United States. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation event is co-hosted by Wheelchair Basketball Canada and Brock University.

The tournament is brought to you in part by Sport Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, 49 Bespoke and Visit St. Catharines. Visit www.u25wwbc.com for more information.

About Wheelchair Basketball Canada

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sports governing body responsible for the organization of wheelchair basketball in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization that is the Canadian member to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).

Wheelchair basketball is a fast paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport that has emerged as one of the most competitive and athletic sports played at the Paralympic Games. Our senior national teams are held in high esteem around the world for the elite skill and control that placed them on the podium with a combined five gold and one silver medal in the last five Paralympic Games. Visit: www.wheelchairbasketball.ca for more information.

About Brock University

Brock University is located atop the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario’s Niagara peninsula. With 17,000 full-time students and nearly 600 faculty, Brock is buzzing with activity and welcoming visitors to the campus every day.

For more information or to schedule an interview contact:

Courtney Pollock
Communications & Media Relations Assistant
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
T: 289-686-9157 or 613-260-1296 ext. 200
cpollock@wheelchairbasketball.ca

Jody Kingsbury
Communications & Media Relations Manager
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
T: 613-851-2337 or 613-260-1296 ext. 204
jkingsbury@wheelchairbasketball.ca