Hamilton's Kia Nurse on fans, her family, and making basketball history
Nurse posted team best 33 points to help capture gold medal
Hamilton's own Kia Nurse led the Canadian women's basketball team to a historic gold medal performance Monday night, posting a team-best 33 points.
Nurse made sure to thank everyone in Hamilton during her interview on CBC News Network Tuesday. You can watch her interview in the player above.
Though Nurse is an accomplished athlete who comes from a family full of prestigious winners, she still couldn't escape the nerves of playing such a huge game at home in Canada.
"Every time you go into a big game – especially on home soil – there's always kind of butterflies," she said. "It's just a matter of settling in and progressing as the game goes on."
The Canadians led by as many as 17 points in front of a delirious sell-out crowd of about 3,300 flag-waving fans at Ryerson University's Mattamy Athletic Centre. They took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Americans trailed just 78-73 with 18 seconds to play, but two free throws by Nurse with seven seconds left — and the crowd chanting "M-V-P!" — sealed Canada's victory.
Nurse, who's uncle is former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb and brother is Edmonton Oilers prospect Darnell Nurse, was coming off an NCAA title with the Connecticut Huskies — and her poise in big games showed Monday night.
Nurse told CBC News that she knew she was about to go on a roll as soon as her first shot of the game went in.
"It was a confidence booster, and I kind of just felt like I was on a roll – I wasn't thinking too much, I was just playing the game of basketball," she said.
The 19-year-old — whose name was trending on Twitter in Toronto — added five rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals and a block. And when she went down in a massive collision with just under four minutes left, and was helped off the court, the crowd saluted her rock-solid performance with a standing ovation.
Canada had never won a Pan Am basketball gold, on either the men's or women's side. The women's best result was a silver at the 1999 Games in Winnipeg.
With files from The Canadian Press