The Canadian women's national basketball team continued their reign in the Americas after edging host nation Argentina in the 2017 FIBA Women's AmeriCup gold medal match, 67-65 on Sunday to successfully defend their title.
Kia Nurse sank the go-ahead basket with over a minute remaining in the final as Canada overcame a sloppy first half to go back to back in the continental championship.
Argentina played spirited in the first half and appeared as if they were on their way to winning at home.
But Canada flipped the switch in the third quarter, using a 13-2 run to take the lead. Miranda Ayim's free throws gave Canada the 45-43 cushion. They went on to out-score Argentina, 29-13 in the third to take a 56-47 lead into the final period.
Katherine Plouffe pushed Canada's lead to its highest at 64-52, with 7:39 remaining. Still, Argentina kept themselves in the game, and battled back. A jumper by Agostina Boquete brought the advantage back to the home squad, 65-64.
Nurse responded to make it 66-65 for Canada. Melisa Gretter missed three baskets inside of the last minute, the last coming off a running three after Nirra Fields split her free throws in the final seven seconds of the game.
Nurse led Canada with 12 points. Ayim and Miah-Marie Langlois both had 10 points. Plouffe grabbed 11 rebounds. Canada was +13 in rebounding and +15 in bench points.
Gretter had 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Macarena Rosset added 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
Fields was named MVP of the tournament as she averaged 14.5 PPG throughout the campaign. Gretter, Ayim, Allison Gibson, and Paola Ferrari joined her in the All-Star Five.
In the battle for third place, Puerto Rico beat Brazil, 75-68 to join Canada and Argentina as the representatives from the Americas to the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup next year.
All photos from FIBA.com
Video from the FIBA YouTube channel
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