Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Riding a huge fourth quarter scoring explosion as a team and a 27-point individual scoring effort by Matee Ajavon (Rutgers / Newark, N.J.), the USA Women's Pan American Games Team (5-0) outscored host Brazil (4-1) 30-13 in the game's final quarter to record a 79-66 win and capture the Pan American Games gold medal Tuesday evening in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The victory kept the U.S. team's slate a perfect 5-0 and earned the Americans the gold medal, the United States' first gold medal in Pan American Games competition since 1987.
Rising Tennessee senior Nicky Anosike pumped in 10 points on 5-of-10 field goals with seven rebounds. She added a team-high four assists while recording two blocks and a steal. Lady Vol teammate Alexis Hornbuckle, who tied with a team-high nine rebounds, including four on the offensive glass, added five points. She registered three assists and a team-high two steals.
Playing in front of a loud partisan Brazil crowd that was clad in yellow and green and numbering over 13,000, the 2007 squad did what three teams that came before it were unable to do - win the gold. Since claiming gold in 1987, the USA had earned silver once (2003) and bronze twice (1991 and 1999) (note-the women's basketball competition was canceled for 1995 Pan American Games).
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