The Women's Wheelchair Basketball competition concluded on Monday, September 15 with the US team claimed the gold medal by defeating Germany.

China takes 7th place in 57-38 win over Great Britain

Center Fu Yongqing's 28 points led China's relentless offense that earned the team a 57-38 win over Great Britain in the classification play-off game for seventh-eighth place on Monday, September 15.

China overcame a first-quarter deficit of six points and poured in the shots for the rest of the game to earn its second win of the tournament. China outscored Great Britain 20-2 in the second quarter, and maintained scoring consistency with several successful field goals and free throws in the fourth quarter. China grabbed 46 rebounds, 32 of which were defensive rebounds.

"Our team played up to our level this game, both in technique and in strategy," said Chinese coach Liu Tiehua after the match. "We had a high shooting percentage of 41 percent. But there were also some problems, for example we had nine turnovers in passing. In my opinion, there is no miracle and nothing unexpected."

Forward Helen Freeman was the top British scorer, but none of Great Britain's players scored above seven points.

Canada overwhelm the Netherlands 61-32 for 5th place

Defending gold medalist Canada secured the fifth place in the tournament by overwhelming the Netherlands 61-32 in the classification play-off game for fifth-sixth place, at the National Indoor Stadium on Monday.

Three players scored in the double digits for Canada, whose tight defense limited the Netherlands to scoring only 10 points in the second half. Guard Sabrina Pettinicchi was the game's high scorer with 14 points.

The Netherlands nearly matched Canada in rebounds (38 vs. 43) and steals (eight vs. 10), but the losing side hit fewer than half of the field goals and two-point shots that Canada did. Guard Inge Huitzing, who contributed 12 points, was the only player from the Netherlands to score over six points.

"We seemed not to have an answer for their new kind of offense," said Dutch guard Roos Oosterbaan. "We didn't seem to get our set. They were really strong. They don't seem to let their game out of their hands."

Australia outlast Japan 53-47 for bronze medal

Despite 21 turnovers and a flurry of missed scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter, Australia outlasted Japan 53-47 in the bronze medal game on Monday.

Australia, the defending silver medalist, held on to victory as guard Kylie Gauci hit a clutch three-point shot and a foul shot, forward Sarah Stewart made a field goal and a foul shot, and forward Cobi Crispin made a free throw all in the last three minutes of play.

Forward Liesl Tesch contributed the most points (16) and rebounds (14) for Australia, while Japanese forward Mari Amimoto was the game's highest scorer with 18 points.

"It's unreal," said Gaoci. "A lot of people come to the Paralympic Games and don't win a medal, so to get third in the world is amazing. Hopefully in four more years we will be there for the gold medal."

United States defeat Germany 50-38 for Basketball Gold

Benefiting from a tightly packed defense, 16 points from guard Christina Ripp and key free throws in the final minutes of the game, Team USA defeated Germany 50-38 in the Women's Wheelchair Basketball gold medal game on Monday, September 15.

The United States, who won the gold medal in Athens, kept a close guard on Germany with man-to-man defense style that minimized Germany's scoring potential. Center Marina Mohnen, who scored 13 points, was the only German player to score over six points.

Forward Carlee Hoffman and guard Stephanie Wheeler helped seal the US team's victory by each hitting two free throws in the last two minutes of play.

Germany committed several personal fouls in the fourth quarter and allowed a game total of 19 turnovers, from which the United States scored 11 points. The German Women's team's silver medal was its first medal since the 1988 Seoul Games, where the Federal Republic of Germany won silver.

(BOCOG September 16, 2008)