Canada’s women’s basketball team beats Brazil to book spot in Pan Am final

Nirra Fields (Photo courtesy of Ucla Ruins)

TORONTO – Canada’s women’s basketball team will play for gold at the Pan American Games after thoroughly dismantling Brazil 91-63 on Sunday.

Nirra Fields had 15 points to top the Canadians, who will meet the United States in Monday night’s final and are guaranteed to match their best-ever Pan Am result.

Canada has never won a Pan Am basketball tournament, on either the women or men’s side. The women’s best result was a silver in 1999 in Winnipeg.

Lizanne Murphy scored 12 points, while Kim Gaucher and Michelle Plouffe had 10 apiece for a Canadian team that completely outclassed Brazil with its depth and hard-nosed defence.

The Americans played Cuba in the early semifinal, holding on for a 65-64 victory.