updated 3:17 p.m. ET Aug. 20, 2004

ATHENS, Greece - Russia used a patient, defensive strategy to defeat Germany 34-28 and win the gold medal in women’s team epee fencing Friday.

The Russian squad of Karina Aznavourian, Oxana Ermakova and Tatiana Logounova built their lead slowly by not allowing the Germans to score their second touch until more than 12 minutes into the 27-minute match.

Once up by seven points, the Russians never allowed the Germans to get any closer than two the rest of the way.

Germany needed overtime to beat France in the semifinals. Entering the last rotation of regulation Germany led 18-17. Laura Flessel-Colovic, who won the silver in the individual epee competition last Sunday, outscored Imke Duplitzer, 15-14 in the three-minute period to force overtime, but the Germans rallied for the win.

“(The players) were crying at the end and I think at the beginning they were tears of disappointment,” German team manager Gordon Rapp told Reuters. “It was only later they realized what they had achieved. I think now they are very happy with the silver medal.”

Rapp said the Germans had been fortunate to get to the final.

“We won both of our previous matches very late in extra-time so I think we had all the luck that we needed,” he said. “But it wasn’t enough in the final.”

Canada, ranked 10th in the world, upset No. 2 Hungary 38-37 in overtime in the quarterfinals. The Canadians lost to Russia 25-18 in the semifinals and the fell to France 45-37 in the bronze medal bout.

Fencing - Women's Team Epee (medals: Aug. 20th) Medal Athlete Country Result Gold Aznavourian, Ermakova, Logounova Russia 34-28 Silver Bokel, Heidemann, Duplitzer Germany Bronze Picot, Flessel-Colovic, Nisima, Daninthe France 45-37 NBCO: Schedules, preliminary result and complete final results

MORE FROM FENCING

France wins men's team epee fencing gold

France wins men's team epee fencing gold Fencing chiefs expel referee for miss-scoring Italy defeats China for men's fencing gold Russia retains women’s team epee gold Vezzali wins Italian fencing showdown U.S. women win first-ever fencing medals NBCO: Inside the sport Medal winners   Add Fencing headlines to your news reader: