WBB: Murphy Helps Canada Earn Rio Olympics Bid

Edmonton – Former Hofstra standout Lizanne Murphy continued a terrific summer playing for the Canadian national team as she helped her squad qualify for the second straight Olympic Games following an 82-66 win over Cuba in the FIBA Americas Championship on Sunday in Edmonton.

The victory in Canada's own country secured a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics. The victory came a month after Canada defeated the U.S. in the Pan American gold-medal game.

Murphy is in her ninth season the Canadian team. The Beaconsfield, Quebec native played for Canada during the team's 2012 Olympic run in London when she appeared in six games and averaged 4.5 points in 17.5 minutes in the most prestigious international tournament.

In the championship game, Murphy played 13:43 off the bench and scored four points and added a rebound. The small forward averaged 7.2 points in six games during the FIBA Americas run.

It's only the second time that Canada emerged victorious at the Americas tournament, previously wining it in 1995 in Hamilton — the only other time they served as the host nation. The Canadians entered the tournament with plenty of momentum after recently beating the United States for gold at the Pan American Games in Toronto.

Murphy currently plays for the Angers in the French LFB. One of the top rebounders in the history of the Hofstra Women's Basketball program, Murphy finished her career with 988 rebounds and 1,245 points. Her rebounding total still ranks third in program history.

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