LIMA, Peru -- The U.S. women's basketball team stood toe to toe with a veteran Brazil team for three quarters but couldn't match its energy down the stretch, losing 79-73 Saturday night in the gold-medal game at the 2019 Pan American Games.
Texas A&M's Chennedy Carter, who finished with 16 points, tried to spark the Americans in the fourth, but Brazil's lead grew to 63-58 with 4:31 left, an edge that wouldn't be threatened the rest of the way.
Forward Beatrice Mompremier of Miami, who matched Carter's 16 points for the U.S., said Brazil had "better energy than us."
"We came out in the fourth quarter a little sluggish, but toward the end we fought back," she said.
Brazil controlled the opening moments of the game and would shoot 50 percent in the first half. But the team of NCAA players kept the game close, boosted by an 11-0 run that gave it a 19-16 advantage in a game that included 10 lead changes.
The U.S. has not won a gold medal in men's or women's basketball at the Pan American Games since 2007.
With the addition of the 3x3 format, the Americans come away from Lima with four medals in as many disciplines in the sport -- two golds for the 3x3 teams, a bronze for the men and silver for the women.