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The USA held off France 67-66 to win an unprecedented eighth successive girls’s Olympic basketball gold on Sunday and lengthen their run of victories on the event to 61 video games. A’ja Wilson scored a game-high 21 factors for the People who received the title for the tenth time total, surviving a buzzer-beating shot from France’s Gabby Williams. The hosts wanted a 3 to drive additional time in Paris however Williams’ foot was on the three-point line as she let go of the ball, so her shot counted for simply two factors in a dramatic finale.
“I want I may put it into phrases. I do not assume I am going to keep in mind that second half for the following couple of weeks. It is all a blur proper now,” stated Wilson, who additionally registered 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.
“We had been simply resilient in what we wanted to do.”
Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Copper each scored 12 factors off the bench for the US.
Williams, who led France with 19, admitted she knew her last-gasp shot wasn’t going to be sufficient.
“I knew right away it was two factors however I used to be going rapidly. It was exhausting to cease,” she stated.
The referees briefly conferred earlier than confirming the sport was over.
“I used to be behind her, so I noticed it was a two,” stated Copper. “No stress for me — I do not know in regards to the folks on the bench!”
An eighth straight triumph gave the US girls the report for many consecutive gold medals in any workforce sport on the Olympics, breaking a tie with the US males, who received seven basketball titles in a row from 1936 to 1968.
“A fully unimaginable basketball sport. Two groups that left all of it on the market,” stated US coach Cheryl Reeve.
“I knew it will be exhausting, something straightforward is not price having. Coming house with gold, I am unable to consider something that will be higher in life than what we simply did collectively.”
For the 42-year-old Diana Taurasi it was a report sixth Olympic gold, shifting her one forward of Sue Fowl.
The US girls obtained assist from LeBron James, who sat courtside carrying his gold medal and was joined by team-mates Bam Adebayo and Derrick White, after they received the lads’s gold by beating France 98-87 in Saturday’s last.
Frantic end
A low-scoring first quarter noticed a cold-shooting France muster simply 9 factors, however the US solely fared marginally higher and led by six after 10 minutes.
Nevada-born Williams, who qualifies to play for France by means of her mom, trimmed the hole to a degree with a 3 early within the second interval earlier than a basket from Valeriane Ayayi tied the sport at 20-20.
Marine Fauthoux drained a 3 from close to midcourt with the shot clock expiring to ship the Bercy Enviornment crowd wild, however Napheesa Collier’s putback ensured the groups headed into the break degree at 25-25.
France strung collectively a 10-point run to begin the third interval earlier than the US hit again to steer 45-43 going into the ultimate quarter, with Plum connecting on a pair of threes.
Wilson belatedly discovered some rhythm offensively after a tough first half, however France had a solution every time and went again in entrance, 51-49, on Marieme Badiane’s layup.
The US nudged again forward, Wilson getting a sort bounce off the backboard and Plum sinking a pair of free throws to depart them main by three with two minutes to play.
Williams’ jumper made it a one-point contest earlier than Copper drove to the basket to maintain the US on prime.
France obtained the ball again trailing by three with round 45 seconds left, however Fauthoux’s determined heave below heavy stress got here up properly brief.
Wilson then made a free throw to increase the result in 4 and Plum appeared to have clinched the win with a pair of foul photographs, however Williams stored France alive with a clutch three.
Copper held her nerve to sink two extra free throws for the US to revive their cushion to 3.
They wanted each level as Williams almost pulled off a miraculous escape act because the buzzer sounded, solely to be denied by a matter of centimetres.
“We should not let our heads drop as a result of what we did tonight was big. Everybody’s going to speak about this sport for years,” stated Williams.
“After all there’s disappointment however I believe in a number of hours we’ll rejoice this medal.”
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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