OTTAWA, Ontario — The USA women erased a 10-point halftime deficit and pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Great Britain 71-61 on Sept. 17 at TD Place, securing a place in the women’s gold-medal game at the 2026 IWBF International Championships. The United States will face Canada for gold.

Courtney Ryan led the USA with 20 points and seven assists, while Rose Hollermann recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Ixhelt Gonzalez added 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, four assists and four steals, and Lindsey Zurbrugg scored 11 points while playing all 40 minutes.

FIRST-QUARTER EDGE

Gonzalez opened the scoring after a steal, and Team USA established an early advantage behind Ryan, Hollermann and Gonzalez.

Zurbrugg connected from three-point range with 4:15 remaining to put Team USA ahead 15-8. Great Britain responded late in the quarter, cutting the margin to one before the break, with the United States leading 17-16 after 10 minutes.

GREAT BRITAIN BUILDS A LEAD

Great Britain moved in front early in the second quarter and began creating separation.

Katie Morrow scored repeatedly during the period as Great Britain pushed its advantage to 27-19. Becca Murray answered with two baskets for Team USA, but Great Britain continued to extend the margin and went ahead 37-25 with 2:05 left in the half. Ryan scored on the next USA possession, and the teams went to halftime with Great Britain leading 37-27.

Zurbrugg said the significance of the semifinal did not change the team’s preparation.

“Exact same game plan that we always have,” she said. Zurbrugg acknowledged it was “a more important game and a more valuable game,” but said the group did not want the pressure of the moment to alter its approach.

THIRD-QUARTER RESPONSE

Team USA began cutting into the deficit immediately after halftime.

Ryan scored first, Gonzalez followed with a basket and Zurbrugg converted twice as the United States pulled within four. Hollermann’s shot with 6:38 remaining made it 39-37.

Ryan tied the game at 41-41 with 5:57 left and scored again to give Team USA a 43-41 lead. Great Britain answered, however, and recovered a four-point advantage by the end of the quarter, taking a 51-47 lead into the fourth.

Zurbrugg said the emphasis at halftime was on remaining connected.

“We’re going to stay together as a team,” she said. “We’re going to stick together and be the best team and let the results decide it.”

FOURTH-QUARTER TURN

Gonzalez opened the fourth quarter with an offensive rebound and layup to cut the deficit to 51-49. Morrow answered at the other end, restoring Great Britain’s four-point lead at 53-49 with 9:12 remaining.

Gonzalez then stole the ball from Robyn Love and converted a layup to make it 53-51. Ryan tied the game at 53-53 before Hollermann scored with 7:09 left to put Team USA ahead 55-53.

The United States continued to build from there. Ryan scored twice, Hollermann added three baskets and Gonzalez contributed two assists as Team USA turned a 53-49 deficit into a 65-57 lead with 3:53 remaining — a 16-4 run that gave the Americans their largest advantage to that point.

Gonzalez pointed to the team’s composure as a key factor.

“Our composure,” she said when asked about Team USA’s biggest advantage. “We came together and stayed composed.”

CLOSING IT OUT

Gonzalez scored again with 2:49 remaining to make it 67-59. Kaitlyn Eaton added a basket in the final minute, and Zurbrugg made two free throws with two seconds left to close out the 71-61 final.

Team USA shot 54.8 percent from the field and finished with 19 assists against six turnovers. Great Britain shot 45.2 percent and committed 11 turnovers. Morrow led Great Britain with 23 points, while Love had 12 points and nine assists.

The win sends the USA women into the gold-medal game against Canada in the women’s division of the 2026 IWBF International Championships.