Argentina was made to sweat but finally beat Puerto Rico 66-61 on Monday night in Colombia.
Cuba also survived against hosts Colombia while Canada and Brazil cruised to big wins on the third day of the FIBA Americas Championship for Women, where the gold medalists will qualify for the London Games.
The Argentineans had dominated Chile in their opening win on Sunday yet had plenty of problems against Puerto Rico.
Argentina trailed 56-51 after a lay-up by Puerto Rico's Cynthia Marie Valentin early in the fourth quarter.
The Puerto Ricans (1-2) went more than six minutes without scoring a point, and Argentina capitalized. Agostino Burani hit a jump shot to trim the deficit to 56-53 and Carolina Sanchez hit another with 4:54 left to cut the gap to one.
Sanchez and Deborah Gonzalez then each sank two free-throws for a 59-56 Argentina lead.
When Burani split a pair at the line and followed with a lay-up just 1:49 from the end, Argentina were on top 62-56.
Puerto Rico weren't done, however.
Yolanda Jones stopped the rot with a jumper 1:34 from the end and then with 33 seconds to go, Cortijo made two free-throws to cut the deficit to 62-61.
After calling a timeout, Argentina reclaimed control.
The 35-year-old Sanchez was fouled and sank both free-throws.
Puerto Rico's hopes of an upset died soon after as Valentin missed a jumper and Marie Placido was off target with a potential game-tying three-pointer.
Hosts Colombia (1-2) pushed Cuba (2-0) hard in the last game of Monday but fell, 75-65.
When Elisa Garcia drilled a three-ball late in the third quarter, the Colombians had a 49-42 lead.
Cuba struck back, with an Ineidis Casanova three-pointer capping an 11-1 run to close the frame for the Cubans.
On top 53-50 going into the last quarter, Cuba never trailed again.
Gold-medal favorites Brazil (3-0) tore apart Jamaica (1-1), 73-50, and Canada (2-1) hammered Paraguay (0-3) 77-26 in the other two games.
FIBA Americas Women's Championship
27.09.2011
20:30 | BASKETBALL
Jamaica v Paraguay
22:45 | BASKETBALL
Mexico v Brazil
28.09.2011
01:00 | BASKETBALL
Chile v Puerto Rico
03:15 | BASKETBALL
Argentina v Cuba
