The USA led the 12-team tournament in 13 of 19 team statistical categories.

USA Basketball

July 25, 2010 • Toulouse, France

Rolling undefeated through the inaugural 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship, the 2010 USA Women's U17 World Championship Team (8-0) capped its impressive performance with a 92-62 win over host France (5-3) in front of a raucous crowd in the tournament's gold-medal game on July 25 in Toulouse, France.

The Americans had previously beaten the home team in its opening game of preliminary play back in Rodez, France on July 16.

"We knew France would come out and play hard," Barbara Nelson, USA U17 and Wingate University head coach. "They had the crowd on their side. They had all the energy of playing at home, and because we had already beaten them, they could play very loose and just go for it. I'm proud of the intensity that we matched, and I'm just excited for the girls that we won."

For a fifth time in the eight-game tournament, all 12 U.S. players scored, led by 20 points and six assists from Ariel Massengale (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, Ill.), 15 points and five rebounds and three assists from Kaleena Lewis (Mater Dei H.S./Anaheim, Calif) and 15 points, five rebounds and three blocks from Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne H.S./Virginia Beach, Va.).

"Words cannot explain how I feel," Massenagle said. "It's just a great honor, and we are all blessed to have had this opportunity to do something like this."

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