Canada win 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Women's Championship

PUEBLA (2015 FIBA Americas U16 Women's Championship) - Canada claimed the title at the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's U16 Championship by getting the better of Brazil, 72-71 after overtime, in an exciting Final on Sunday.

Both teams showed themselves to be a bit nervous in a first quarter that ended up tied at 11, but it was off to the races after those initial 10 minutes of play in a packed Interamerican University gym in Puebla.

It became a spectacular affair with some big baskets from both sides, but none bigger than Izabela Leite Nicoletti's three-pointer that sent the game into overtime.

Canada's aggressiveness and ability to get to the free-throw line were key in the extra session. Five of their seven points in the period came from the charity stripe. Brazil fought hard and got back within one with seven seconds left thanks to another Nicoletti three-pointer, but in the end it was not enough and the Canadians became Americas U16 Women's champions. 

Alyssa Jerome had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the winning cause and was named the tournament's MVP. Nicoletti led all scorers with 32 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. 

It is the first title for Canada in the FIBA Americas U16 Women's Championship, with the USA having won the previous three editions.

"What a game. I'm incredibly proud of our girls - they kept their composure. We knew Brazil wouldn't go away and it would be a tough 40-minute battle. It ended being a 45-minute battle," said Canada head coach Carly Clarke.

"The girls stuck to our number one key which was rebounding and I think that ended up being the difference in the game. Brazil made some huge shots down the stretch but we kept our composure and stuck to the game plan and that ended up paying off in the end.

"I'm incredibly proud of our effort and incredibly proud of these girls for their passion, their pride and their unity. They stuck together through that whole game and whole tournament and we got a great result."

Brazil claimed their second runners-up finish, having lost in the Final to USA in 2011.

"We had a great championship.. It's hard to lose a game the way it happened today, but I'm very proud of the girls and what they did," said Brazil head coach Anne Amalia Sabatini.

"We knew we could come out champions and came really close. The experience was great and for sure we can take advantage of it in our development for the next competition that these girls will face which is the FIBA U17 [Women's] World Championship next year.

In the Third-Place Game, the USA dominated hosts Mexico, 81-24.

Canada, Brazil, USA and Mexico are the four Americas teams to have qualified for the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship. 

Final standings of the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Women's Championship:
1. Canada
2. Brazil
3. USA
4. Mexico
5. Cuba
6. Argentina
7. Venezuela 
8. Honduras

Go to fibaamericas.com for full coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Women's Championship.

FIBA