Women's Pan American Team Falls To Cuba IN Gold Medal Game

Boxscore vs. Cuba

Full Pan Am Tournament Results and USA Boxscores

Ann Strother and Barbara Turner (back row, sixth and seventh from the left) with their Pan Am silver-medal winning USA teammates.

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (August 9) --  University of Connecticut forward Ann Strother (Castle Rock, CO) and forward Barbara Turner (Cleveland, OH) combined for 10 points as the USA Women's Pan American team dropped a 75-64 decision to Cuba on Saturday evening in the gold medal game at the Pan American games. 

Chilled shooting was the key factor in the USA loss. While outrebounding Cuba 35 to 32 and winning the battle of turnovers 14 to 15, the USA managed to make just 35.0 percent (21-60 FGs) from the field, and only 3-of-17 (.176 percent) from 3-point range. Cuba, meanwhile, hit on 50.0 percent (28-56 FGs) of its shots, but was successful on only 1-of-15 (.067 percent) attempts from 3-point.

"This has been an amazing experience, just so much fun," Strother said of the experience. "When we first came together, we didn't expect to get to the gold medal game, but we came a long way in three weeks. A lot has transpired, and I'm proud of the way the players of this team came together."

"It's a great feeling to win an NCAA title, but there's no feeling like competing for a gold medal for your country," added Turner.

Still, the team USA women's silver medal marks the Americans' top Pan Am finish since winning gold in 1987 with  a team that included Cynthia Cooper, Anne Donovan, Teresa Edwards and Katrina McClain.