University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Nirra Fields Named MVP of FIBA Women's AmeriCup
August 14, 2017 | Women's Basketball
This is Canada's second consecutive FIBA Women's AmeriCup (formerly FIBA Americas Championship for Women) title.
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BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA -- The Canadian Senior Women's National Team, led by UCLA's Nirra Fields, successfully defended its FIBA AmeriCup title on Sunday night with a 67-65 victory over hosts Argentina. With the win and a strong showing Canada has qualified for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, along with Argentina and third-place Puerto Rico.
Kia Nurse led Canada with 12 points while Miranda Ayim and Miah-Marie Langlois each had 10 points. Ruth Hamblin had nine points and seven rebounds with Katherine Plouffe and Nirra Fields chipping in seven points apiece in Canada's win.
Click here for the box score.
The Canadians got off to a slow start and trailed Argentina 18-14 after the first quarter and 34-27 at the half. Canada took the lead for the first time in the third quarter after a strong 29-13 period. A back-and-forth final quarter would see Kia Nurse make a crucial jumper with 1:27 to play to give Canada a 66-65 lead. Fields would grab a huge defensive rebound with 15 seconds left and was immediately fouled. She made 1-of-2 at the line to put Canada up 67-65. They would hold on for the victory after Melisa Gretter's potential game-winning three-pointer as time expired was off the mark.
Fields was named MVP of the FIBA Women's AmeriCup after leading Canada in scoring at 14.5 points per game in the six games in the tournament. She also averaged 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range. Joining Fields in the All-Star Five of the tournament were Melisa Gretter (ARG), Allison Gibson (PUR), Paola Ferrari (PAR) and Miranda Ayim (CAN).
"It feels amazing," Fields said. "It's the second title in a row and we are writing history. The team is feeling great and we are all celebrating. We are happy that we put in a team effort today and got the win."
This is Canada's second consecutive FIBA Women's AmeriCup (formerly FIBA Americas Championship for Women) title after defeating Cuba 82-66 in Edmonton back in 2015.
Canada becomes just the second country to repeat as FIBA Women's AmeriCup champions, joining Brazil who accomplished the feat twice (2001-03, 2009-11). Canada has now found the podium in each of the last five FIBA Americas competitions dating back to 2009.
Sunday's victory was Canada's first head-to-head over Argentina since a 77-57 win in 2005, snapping a two-game losing streak to Argentina in the process.
