Women win gold, men bronze at wheelchair basketball world championships

National Wheelchair Basketball Association July 20, 2010

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Becca Murray (Germantown, Wis.) led the way with 25 points as the USA women defeated Germany 55-53 to win gold at the IWBF World Championships in Birmingham, England.
 

The two teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 44. Murray hit a shot with nineteen seconds left in the game to put the USA up by one point. At the other end of the floor Andrea Woodson-Smith blocks an ensuring shot by Germany, while Natalie Schneider (Lincoln, Neb.) picked up the loose ball and was then fouled. Schneider missed the first and made the second to put the women up by two. Germany had one more opportunity to tie up the game, but their attempt with .8 seconds left failed.

The USA men defeated Italy 71-42 to take home the bronze medal. Italy kept the game close, but with the USA's tough defense holding the Italians to only six points in the third quarter helped the men pull away with ease.

In addition, Team USA athletes Murray, Christina Ripp (Dane, Wis.) and Matt Scott (Detroit, Mich.) were named to the world championships All-Star Team.

For more information, visit www.nwba.org.