SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- A big, controversial victory for the women's basketball team. A bitter, controversial loss for wrestling star Cael Sanderson.

And a slew of medals, including four gold, in track and field.

The United States showed why it's running away with the medals race Friday, led by the women who did what the men couldn't on the basketball court at the Pan American Games.

By beating Brazil 75-69 in overtime, the Americans guaranteed themselves a basketball medal. They will play Cuba, which beat Canada 58-49.

The American men fell to Brazil in the semifinals and then lost the bronze medal to Puerto Rico -- the first time since 1971 that the United States did not medal in the sport.

But there were questions about the official scoring.

The Americans were credited with a point at the end of the first period. Brazil's coaches approached the scoring table after the quarter, but were satisfied with the explanation.

Stanford's Nicole Powell scored seven of her 17 points in overtime as the Americans overcame a big height disadvantage. Texas star Jamie Carey added 18 points and seven assists.

Earlier, Sanderson, a four-time All-American who went through his entire stay at Iowa State without losing, was beaten 3-2 in overtime by Cuba's Yoel Romero. It was the second time this year that Romero, the world silver medalist and 1999 world champion, beat Sanderson.

Although he controlled the action, Sanderson trailed 2-1 heading into overtime; a wrestler must have at least three points to win. In overtime, Sanderson broke a hold by Romero to tie it.

Moments later, during an attack by Sanderson, both wrestlers wound up off the edge of the mat and the mat officials called for no scoring.

But international federation officials called for a look at instant replay. After a lengthy delay, they judged that Sanderson barely exposed his back in the scramble, giving Romero the third point he needed to win.

"I think it was so close," U.S. coach Zeke Jones said. "I don't think the call is right because I don't think he exposed."

Sanderson won a bronze medal when his Venezuelan opponent forfeited.

Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif.), Joe Williams (Coralville, Iowa), Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla.) and Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa.) all won gold medals. Silver went to Jamill Kelly (Stillwater). The other bronze was won by Eric Guerrero (Stillwater).

"Our guys wrestled with a lot of spirit and heart," Jones said.

At the track, where high school sensation Allyson Felix of Los Angeles got a bronze medal in the women's 200 dash behind Roxana Diaz of Cuba and Cydonie Mothersille of Cayman Islands, three men and one woman added to the American gold count.

Tiffany Lott of Pleasant Grove, Utah, whose son turns 2 during the games, won the heptathlon, the grueling two-day, seven-event competition once dominated by Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

"That was my best time since having my child," Lott, 28, said after finishing the 800 meters, the last event. "I had a pretty solid performance."

She finished with 6,064 points, just shy of the 6,105 she needed to qualify for the world championships in France.

In the men's pole vault, Toby Stevenson of Chula Vista, Calif., took the gold after a jump-off with Russ Buller of West Lake, La., who took the silver.

And Kenny Brokenburr, a veteran of the track scene at age 34, won the men's 200 meters.

Mitchell Potter, a student at Minnesota, won the 400, holding off the threat of Cuba's Yerman Lopez.

German Sanchez of Mexico claimed gold in the 50-kilometer walk. Phillip Dunn (Chula Vista, Calif.) was fifth.

The superb U.S. shooting team collected two more medals. William Johnson II (Woodville, Miss.), won gold and an Olympic berth for the country in the 10-meter running target event, leading throughout. Armando Ayala (Columbus, Ga.) won the bronze.

Sandra Uptagrafft (Longmont, Colo.) beat Cuban Margarita Tarradell in a shootoff for the gold medal and the Olympic spot in the 25-meter pistol. It was her first significant international victory.

"It means so much to me and my team," she said. "There was a lot of pressure on me, but I pulled through and accomplished my goal."

Canada's dominance in diving was further emphasized when it won the women's 3-meter and the men's synchronized platform events. Canada has won every diving event thus far.

Alexandre Despatie won his third gold by teaming with Philippe Comtois in the platform event. Mexico was second, and the U.S. duo of Mark Ruiz and Kyle Prandi got the bronze. Despatie won the 3-meter synchro with Comtois and the springboard individual competition.

Emilie Heymans didn't win her third gold, falling to countrywoman Blythe Hartley in the 3-meter springboard event. But Heymans did earn a silver.

Carly Gullickson, at 16 the youngest American ever to compete in Pan Ams tennis, lost in the quarterfinals to Milagros Sequera of Venezuela, 6-3, 6-4.