| FINAL STANDINGS 1. Brazil 2. Cuba 3. United States 4. CANADA 5. Argentina | CANADIANS Kim Bertholet Andrea Blackwell (Calgary, Alta.) Cori Blakebrough Jodi Evans (Calgary, Alta.) Michelle Hendry (Terrace, B.C.) Cynthia Johnston (Calgary, Alta.) Karla Karch (Vancouver, B.C.) Merelynn Lange (Port Severn, Ont.) Shawna Molcak (Cardston, Alta.) Jackie Moore (Regina, Sask.) Dianne Norman (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Nana Robinson Denise Scott Anna Stammberger (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) Susan Stewart Wayne Hussey – coach Chris Critelli – assistant Kathy Shields – assistant |
| Round Robin | BRZ | USA | CUB | CAN | ARG | Record | ||
| Brazil | —– | 87-84 | 90-87 | 74-66 | 83-56 | (4-0) | ||
| United States | 84-87 | —– | 91-71 | 87-70 | 97-40 | (3-1) | ||
| Cuba | 87-90 | 71-91 | —– | 95-71 | 93-47 | (2-2) | ||
| Canada | 66-74 | 70-87 | 71-95 | —– | 81-51 | (1-3) | ||
| Argentina | 56-83 | 40-97 | 47-93 | 51-81 | —– | (0-4) | ||
| semi | Cuba 86 United States 81 | |
| semi | Brazil 87 Canada 78 | |
| Bronze | United States 92 Canada 61 | |
| Final | Brazil 97 Cuba 76 | |
In the opening game of the tournament, Bridgette Gordon scored 20 as the United States thumped Canada 87-70. Karla Karch led Canada with 16. The Americans led 54-31 at the half. The United States led 54-31 at halftime and Canada never was closer than 10 points throughout the second half.
In its second game, Canada dropped a 95-71 decision to Cuba.
In its third game, Canada fell 74-66 to Brazil. The Canadians trailed 40-29 at the half and closed the game to within 44-37 in the second half before the Brazilians got hot from the perimeter, rebuilt their lead to 10 and coasted home. Jackie Moore paced Canada with 13 points. Cynthia Johnson added 12. Karla Karch scored 9 while dishing eight assists. Janette Dos Santos led Brazil with 17. Hortensia Marcari, Maria da Silva and Marta de Souza each added 15. Canadian outrebounded Brazil 31-24, including 14-2 on the offensive glass but had trouble finishing. “We did a lot of things well and we were playing with them in the second half. We just weren’t finishing,” said coach Wayne Hussey. “There were some easy shots not falling in early in the game. Compared with other teams here, we’re a young team. We rushed our shots a little. It’s hard to maintain that necessary composure for a young team.”
Canada defeated Argentina 81-51 to qualify for the semis with one win in round robin play.
In the semis, Brazil whipped Canada 87-78
In the bronze medal match, the United States raced to a 19-2 lead and romped to a 92-61 win. Teresa Edwards led the Americans with 22 points. Katrina McClain and Bridgette Gordon each added 16. “We came out scared and played really intimidated,” said guard Karla Karch. “They play an aggressive defence and all we did was back off. …Everyone just played scared. When things started to slip, they just kept slipping. We didn’t have anyone to step up and try to take charge.” Coach Wayne Hussey noted that “the U.S. was ready for heck after the loss (to Cuba in the semis) and we were the sacrificial lambs. My biggest disappointment was I didn’t feel we played with a lot of guts in the first half. By the end of the game, we got back. I think we got some respect back at the end, though the score doesn’t show it.”