Brazil beat the United States 67-54 in the FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Leon ©FIBA

Brazil have beaten the United States 67-54 on the penultimate day of group matches in the International Basketball Federation Women’s AmeriCup in León.

Tainá Paixao top scored with 23 points at the at the Domo de la Feria in the Mexican city as Brazil recorded their fourth consecutive win in group A, to make sure they will play the lowest placed qualifier from Group B in the quarter finals.

It was a rare defeat for the Americans who had won the 2019 and 2021 AmeriCup tournaments, which were both held in Puerto Rico, without losing a single match.

Brazil had won the bronze medal in both those tournaments and are seeking to lift the AmeriCup title for the first time since 2011. 

Earlier, Cuba had beaten Argentina 66-63 to record their first victory of the tournament.

Yamara Amargo scored 25 points.

The Argentinians are now bottom of Group A after a third consecutive defeat but face Venezuela in their final group match.

Despite their victory, Cuba could be edged out of the knockout phase because they have a significantly inferior points differential of minus 57 and are due to face US in their final match.

In Group B, Canada continued their unbeaten run with an 89-55 victory over Colombia.

Nirra Fields led the way with 15 points, though the top match scorer was Colombia’s Esperanza Delgado who scored 22 points in a losing cause.

Puerto Rico completed their group programme with a 70-64 victory over host nation Mexico.

Mya Hollingshed scored four points in the final minute as Puerto Rico came from behind to win.

Match top scorer Arella Guirantes had earlier registered 25 points.

Cuba's top scorer Yamara Amargo was chaired off after her 25 points helped defeat Argentina, but her side's chances of reaching the knockout stages remain in the balance ©FIBA
Cuba's top scorer Yamara Amargo was chaired off after her 25 points helped defeat Argentina, but her side's chances of reaching the knockout stages remain in the balance ©FIBA

In the last of the preliminary round matches tomorrow, Canada start as favourites against the Dominican Republic who have yet to register a victory.

If as expected the Canadians win, the evening encounter between Mexico and Colombia becomes all about positions in the quarter final.

Both have won once and lost twice, but Colombia hold third place before tonight's match by virtue of a marginally better points differential of minus 21.

The Mexicans are on minus 25 and therefore in fourth.

The quarter finals are scheduled for Friday (July 7).

The semi-finals are set for Saturday (July 8) with gold and bronze medal matches the following day.