It took 20 years, but the U.S. earned its first women’s basketball gold medal at the Pan-American Games since 1987, partly thanks to the Cardinal’s Candice Wiggins and Jayne Appel. The duo — which had barely been born when the Americans last won gold — played key roles in the U.S.’s 79-66 win over host Brazil.

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Rising sophomore Jayne Appel (above) and rising senior Candice Wiggins helped the U.S. garner its first women’s basketball gold medal since 1987 at the Pan-American Games on Tuesday. #gallery http://daily.stanford.edu/image/full/7772
Stanford Daily File Photo

Rising sophomore Jayne Appel (above) and rising senior Candice Wiggins helped the U.S. garner its first women’s basketball gold medal since 1987 at the Pan-American Games on Tuesday.

Wiggins started Tuesday’s game and netted four points and two rebounds in 19 minutes of play, while rising sophomore Appel made only a brief appearance in the final.

The Pan-Am gold medal is the second in Wiggins’ summer collection: The rising senior also led Team USA to a win at the FIBA Under-21 World Championships earlier this month.