PILSEN, Czech Republic (AP) — Lauren Cox scored 20 points and blocked eight shots to help the United States beat Spain 77-75 in the women’s under-17 world championship game Sunday.

“I just came into the game wanting to work hard and play hard inside,” said the 6-foot-4 Cox, from Flower Mound, Texas. “I knew it was going to be tough. They have big girls inside, so I just had to work hard.”

Asia Durr of Douglasville, Georgia, had 17 points and four assists, and Arike Ogunbowale of Milwaukee added 15 points and eight rebounds. The United States was 7-0 in the tournament and is 23-0 overall in the biennial event that started in 2010.

Angela Salvadores led Spain (6-1) with 40 points.

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