U.S. defeats Germany to lift women´s wheelchair basketball gold

Source: Xinhua | 09-16-2008 13:10

BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Thanks to a tightly packed defence and 16 points from guard Christina Ripp, the United States defeated Germany 50-38 in the Paralympic women's wheelchair basketball final at the National Indoor Stadium on Monday.

Players of the United States kiss the medals in the awarding ceremony of women's wheelchair basketball at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, September 15, 2008. USA won the  match 50-38 and claimed the title of the event.  (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Tough defence from the United States pushed Germany into a couple of turnovers and key free throws in the final minutes earned the U.S. the title.

The United States kept a close guard on Germany with their man-on-man defence style that minimized Germany's scoring opportunities.

Center Marina Mohnen, who scored 13 points, was the only German to have scored over six points.

Player of the Germany hugs teammate in the awarding ceremony of women's wheelchair basketball at the  Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, September  15, 2008. Germany was defeated by USA 38-50 and won  the silver medal. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)

Forward Carlee Hoffman and guard Stephanie Wheeler helped seal the victory for the U.S. team by each hitting two free throws in the last two minutes.

Germany committed several fouls in the fourth quarter and allowed a total of 19 turnovers, from which the Americans snatched 11 points.

The German women's silver medal was their first medal since the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, where the Federal Republic of Germany finished runner-up.

In the bronze match, Australia outlasted Japan 53-47.