PR N°31 - USA edge out Spain in thriller to win third FIBA U17 World Championship for Women title

PILSEN/KLATOVY, Czech Republic (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) - The 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women came to a dramatic conclusion in Pilsen on Sunday, with the two-time defending champions USA claiming a dramatic 77-75 win over Spain to hold on to their title.

Spain's Angela Salvadores did her best to put an end to the Americans' reign with a monumental 40-point effort, but Lauren Cox and Asia Durr stepped up for the Americas, who claimed a third consecutive U17 Women crown.

Cox finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Durr contributed 17 points and both came up with big plays down the stretch. Click here to read the full game report.

Salvadores was rewarded for her oustanding play throughout the Championship by being named the Most Valuable Player, presented by Tissot. She headlined the All-Tournament Team, which also featured the Hungarian pair of Virag Kiss and Debora Dubei and the American duo of Katie Lou Samuelson and Joyner Holmes.

Kiss had 21 points and 10 rebounds as Hungary rallied from a 15-point deficit to edge out fellow debutantes and tournament hosts Czech Republic 67-61 in the Third-Place Game. Click here to read the full game report.

Final Standings of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women
1. USA
2. Spain
3. Hungary
4. Czech Republic
5. Australia
6. Canada
7. Japan
8. France
9. Brazil
10. Korea
11. China
12. Mali
13. Italy
14. Mexico
15. Slovak Republic
16. Egypt

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women and FIBA also proudly annnounced that the sum of 307,709 Czech Korunas (11,211 Euro) was raised through the All Baskets Count (ABC) social responsibility programme associated with the tournament. All the proceeds will be used to help improve the quality of life of people in need in the region of West Bohemia, where the Championship took place.

About the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women

The FIBA U17 World Championship for Women is where the stars of tomorrow are born. The inaugural event was held in Rodez and Toulouse, France in 2010. The second tournament took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 2012.

The success and interest in the first two editions of the Championship was so high that, starting in 2014, the tournament will consist of a 16-team field – the same competition format as the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women.