The two-time defending champions overcame their challengers 77-75 in a tight match at the Czech city of Pilsen to hold onto their title.

Spain's Angela Salvadores kept the US on their toes with her 40-point effort, but Lauren Cox, who finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Asia Durr, who contributed 17 points, stepped up the game for the ultimate winners.

Early on in the match Salvadores kept her team going as she posted three scores and an assist to see Spain behind 11-8, but she then closed the gap to ensure Spain were within one at 16-15 thanks to a three-pointer from the wing, and a steal and fast-break basket.

Iris Junio also converted twice for Spain to keep it as a one-shot game but then American Katie Lou Samuelson scored from behind the three-point line to make it 34-27.

Some strong defending from Spain saw them almost catch up by the interval with a scoreline of 36-31, but two baskets from Cox and a score by Durr soon gave the US their first double-figure lead at the start of the third period and it was Cox who continued to shine as the defending champions moved 42-31 ahead.

Spain kept making three-pointers, with Maite Cazorla dropping two in quick succession, to bring the US lead to just two points at 47-45, with that even increasing to a Spanish lead of 62-60 in the fourth quarter.

The US then levelled the score at 71-71 with just 90 seconds to go and it was Cox grabbing a score and putting up a big defensive block prior to Durr making a nice play and icing the free-throws that denied Spain the title.

Salvadores' fine performance did not, however, go unnoticed as she was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Meanwhile in the third-place game, Hungary came back from a 15-point deficit to defeat fellow Under 17 Women's World Basketball Championship debutantes and hosts the Czech Republic 67-61.

Off the court, the Organising Committee of the competition revealed that is has raised CZK307,709 (£8,900/$15,261/€11,214) for the All Baskets Count (ABC) social responsibility programme, with all the proceeds being used to help improve the quality of life of people in need in the West Bohemia region.

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